Bryan Denham

Bryan Denham is the Campbell Professor of Sports Communication at Clemson University's College of Arts and Humanities. He holds a Ph.D. in Communications (University of Tennessee, 1996), an MA from California State University, Fullerton (1993), and a BA in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University (1989). His research focuses on media portrayals of substance use in sports, health policy, and quantitative methods. Denham has authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles, 10 book chapters, and the textbook Categorical Statistics for Communication Research. He has served as Chair of the Department of Communication and on editorial boards for journals like Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. His work examines topics such as doping in sports, media framing of athlete controversies, and public health messaging.

Denham’s research integrates social science theory with empirical analyses of media content and policy impacts. He has explored historical media narratives (e.g., Jack Johnson’s boxing coverage, Hearst Magazine’s immigrant portrayals) alongside contemporary issues like concussion awareness and disinformation campaigns. His contributions extend to methodological innovations in categorical statistics and agenda-setting theory.

His articles reflect thematic consistency: over 15 years, they address substance use policy, media’s role in shaping public opinion, and gender/ethnic representation in sports journalism. Denham’s work bridges academic and applied domains, influencing both scholarly discourse and regulatory practices in sports and public health.

Denham has no listed advisees or grants in the provided texts, though his extensive editorial service and peer-review contributions highlight his mentorship role in the field.