Richard Benedetto Adjunct Professorial Lecturer SOC Faculty
- Degrees
- PhD, Syracuse University
M.A., Syracuse University
B.A., Syracuse University - Bio
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Richard Benedetto is an adjunct professor of Journalism. He is a retired White House correspondent and columnist for USA Today and political columnist for Gannett News Service. He began teaching at AU in 2006. He reported on local, state and national government and politics for nearly 40 years and continues to write political commentary for publications such as Politico. Benedetto is a founding member of USA Today , joining in 1982. He wrote the national newspaper’s first Page One cover story. Benedetto covered the White House during the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He has covered every national political convention since 1972 and every presidential campaign since 1984.
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Spring 2025
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GOVT-441 Politics of Mass Communication
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Selected Publications
Politicians Are People, Too (University Press of America, 2006)
AU Experts
Area of Expertise
National politics and elections, White House and the presidency, Â鶹´«Ã½ political parties, political polling, media criticism; media and politics
Additional Information
Richard Benedetto is a retired White House correspondent and columnist for USA Today and political columnist for Gannett News Service. He reported on government and politics on the local, state, and national levels for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2006. He began teaching at AU in 2006, and is an occasional contributor to Politico.Benedetto is a founding member of USA Today, joining the newspaper in 1982, prior to its debut. He wrote the national newspaper’s first Page One cover story. Benedetto covered the White House for USA Today during the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He has covered every national political convention since 1972 and every presidential campaign since 1984. Benedetto is the author of Politicians Are People, Too(University Press of America, 2006). In 1998, he received the National Italian Â鶹´«Ã½ Foundation Media Award for projecting a positive image of Italian Â鶹´«Ã½s.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.