Race, Gender, and Image Repair Theory would be appealing to students today who are studying crisis communication and focusing on” Image Repair Theory” because the case studies included are strongly relevant to them. Also, scholars in public relations and crisis communication would greatly benefit from these incisive and updated interpretations of Benoit’s seminal ideas first expressed more than 20 years ago. . . the focus on gender and race gives this book a powerful place in today’s discussions of social issues and why organizations and public figures seem to be held to higher levels of account-ability. The theme of the changing world of “Image Repair Theory” also resonates because social media presents unique challenges.

Communication Booknotes Quarterly

This is a timely book for understanding contemporary communication with several virtues. First, it provides an interesting combination of critical race theory and image repair theory. Second, it investigates social media along with traditional media, another useful advance. Third, the book offers several interesting case studies to illustrate and apply their approach.

William L. Benoit, University of Alabama, Birmingham

It’s about time. There is not a book of this quality that pulls in the various strands of diversity, critical theory, social media, discourse, and brand/personal apologia. Critical race theory is a neglected but vital area of scholarship within social media and image repair areas. This book fills a gap with its relevant cases, timely discussion, and appropriate application of image repair theory. Within the communication discipline, issues of race, gender, and image repair are not connected and are out of sync with the current conversations happening. It would seem that these strands of thought would be incompatible, but this book merges these areas in a seamless, well-written way. Students and media professionals need to understand that the connective tissues between these theories are popular culture and mediated communication, and this book does that. This book and its cases are valuable for scholars and will be a needed conversation starter in undergraduate and graduate courses.

Natalie T. J. Tindall, Lamar University