Bill Cassidy

Bill Cassidy is a Professor in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he serves as adviser for Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society for journalism and mass communication. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, establishing his foundation in communication research.

Professor Cassidy's research spans media sociology, online journalism, news media coverage of AIDS, print journalism, and sports journalism, with particular expertise in LGBTQ+ representation in sports media. His work on athletes like Jason Collins and Michael Sam examines how media frames coming out stories, revealing evolving journalistic approaches to sexual identity in sports. Additional research explores professional role conceptions across print and digital platforms, online news credibility, and traditional sports statistics in reporting.

His publication trajectory shows increasing focus on sports and social identity from 2012-2017, with consistent output in top communication journals including Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication and Communication and Sport. Methodologically grounded in content analysis, his work connects media practices to broader sociocultural dynamics.

As Kappa Tau Alpha adviser, Professor Cassidy mentors high-achieving journalism students, though specific grant funding isn't documented. His research program demonstrates sustained scholarly engagement with media evolution, particularly regarding representation and professional practices in digital journalism transitions.