Randy Bobbitt

Welcome to my author page. My career as an author began when I turned my master's thesis and doctoral dissertation into books that were eventually published by specialty publishing houses. Once I began college teaching I took advantage of university resources (grant funding, research assistants, library staffs) to produce three textbooks (one each in public relations, communication law, and communication ethics) and three nonfiction books dealing with the intersection of politics, popular culture, and the law.

My most recent book is titled FREE SPEECH IN THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE: FROM THE DAWN OF WORKERS' RIGHTS TO THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. It will be published by Rowman & Littlefield/Bloomsbury in May 2025. My previous book was titled THE VIEW FROM UNDER THE BUS: A CASE STUDY IN MEDIA COVERAGE, PUBLIC OPINION, AND MORAL OUTRAGE. It tells the story of five public employees in New Hampshire who found their lives and careers threatened after testifying in a controversial criminal trial. It was self-published and available on eBay.

I earned a PhD in Communication Law and Policy from Bowling Green State University. I have taught journalism, public relations, and communication law and ethics at four institutions: University of South Florida (1988-92), Marshall University (1992-2001), University of North Carolina Wilmington (2001-06), and the University of West Florida (2006-2016).