Branden Buehler

Branden Buehler is an associate professor of media studies at Seton Hall University. His research focuses on sports media, with a particular emphasis on the workings of sports media industries. He holds a Ph.D. in Cinema and Media Studies from the University of Southern California.

He is the author of Front Office Fantasies: The Rise of Managerial Sports Media, published by the University of Illinois Press in 2023. His research has also been published in the International Journal of Sport Communication, the Journal of Sports Media, and Television & New Media, among other academic journals and collections.

His CV is available here. (January 2025)

Front Office Fantasies: The Rise of Managerial Sports Media

Book Cover Front Office Fantasies examines American sports media's increasing obsession with management - a phenomenon evidenced everywhere from the recent success of films like Moneyball to the increasing television coverage of the NFL and NBA drafts to the expanding popularity of fantasy sports. The book not only analyzes the orgins of this obsession but also explores what this managerial fixation has meant both for sports media and for American society at large. Front Office Fantasies is available to purchase through the publisher, as well as through retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Reviews

An achievement in sports media studies, but also more broadly an important piece of scholarly work for media studies and cultural studies writ large. - Media Industries

Well written and extremely thorough in its overall review of managerial sports media, but more importantly, it may surprise readers by providing a much deeper dive into overall conversations about what it means to be human in the 21st century. - International Journal of Sport Communication

Front Office Fantasies is a well-researched book filled with credible evidence and unforgettable real-world examples ... Buehler's book identifies current trends and offers compelling new insights and thought-provoking questions. These features make it an invaluable resource for academics, students, and any readers with an interest in the intersection of media and social studies in sport. - Journal of Sport History