Birney Young

Birney Young is an Assistant Professor of Communications in the Division of Communication and the Arts at the University of Pittsburgh. He teaches courses in public address, communication theory, and media analysis, grounding his pedagogy in the theories of the Sophists from Greek antiquity.

• Ph.D. in Communication: Rhetoric and Communication, University of Pittsburgh (2020)
• M.A. in Communication and Rhetoric, University of Pittsburgh (2015)
• B.A. in Rhetoric and Classics (Ancient Civilizations Greek Language), UC Berkeley (2013)

His research focuses on the intersection of rhetoric and media, particularly how classical rhetorical theories inform contemporary communication practices. He has presented on topics such as cultural signifiers in film adaptations and the dynamics of audience labor in media contexts.

Notable accomplishments include co-authoring the article "Working Stiff(s): A Theory of Live Audience Labor Disputes" (Critical Studies in Media Communication, 2019), which explores spectator labor activism in WWE events. His work combines historical rhetorical frameworks with modern media phenomena.

• Scientific Awards
  • Teaching Award
  • Teaching Award