William L. Benoit (Ph.D., Wayne State University, 1979) is Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He created and applied image repair theory and the functional theory of political communication. He has published over 15 books; his H-index is 63.

Andrew C. Billings (Ph.D., Indiana University, 1999) is the Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media at the University of Alabama. He has published over 200 journal articles and book chapters along with 20 book projects, the majority of which pertain to issues of media content and effects.