Professor Keith is the author of 21 books on electronic media, as well as a published memoir. Most recently he edited a found manuscript by radio’s legendary dramatist, Norman Corwin—Norman Corwin’s ‘One World Flight’ (Continuum, 2009, with Mary Ann Watson). What he refers to as his “fringe group” series consists of a book that examines the use of radio and television by Native Americans—Signals in the Air (Praeger, 1995), a book that explores the nature and role of counterculture radio in the sixties—Voices in the Purple Haze (Praeger, 1997), a book that probes the right-wing’s exploitation of the electronic media airwaves—Waves of Rancor, a summer reading list selection by President Clinton (M.E. Sharpe, 1999, with Robert Hilliard), a book that examines the role of gays and lesbians in broadcasting—Queer Airwaves (M.E. Sharpe, 2001, with Phylis Johnson), a book about broadcasting and the First Amendment—Dirty Discourse (Blackwell Press, 2003, with Robert Hilliard), a book that evaluates the loss of localism in American radio—The Quieted Voice (Southern Illinois University Press, 2005, with Robert Hilliard), and an edited volume on the impact of the audio medium in American life—Radio Cultures (Peter Lang, 2008).

Keith is also the author of the most widely adopted text on radio in the country and globally—The Radio Station, 8th edition (Focal Press, 2009), an oral history—Talking Radio (M.E. Sharpe, 2000), a study of nocturnal broadcasting—Sounds in the Dark (Iowa State University Press, 2001), The Broadcast Century, 5th edition (Focal Press, 2010, with Robert Hilliard), and a history of FM broadcasting—Sounds of Change (University of North Carolina Press, 2008, with Christopher Sterling). He is also the author of a critically acclaimed memoir—The Next Better Place (Algonquin Books, 2003), a young adult novel—Life is Falling Sideways (Parlance, 2009), as well as numerous articles and short stories (one nominated for the PEN/O’Henry Award). He has been invited to speak at many national and international conferences and universities.

Prior to joining Boston College, Keith served as Chair of Education at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, taught at George Washington University and Marquette University, was director of the communication program at Dean College, and worked as a professional broadcaster for a Prior to joining Boston College, Keith served as Chair of Education at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, taught at George Washington University and Marquette University, was director of the communication program at Dean College, and worked as a professional broadcaster for a dozen years. He is the co-founder of the Broadcast Education Association’s Radio Division and its first chair and the recipient of many honors, including the Stanton Fellow Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award presented by national communication organizations.