Rodney Benson

Rodney Benson is Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University with a cross-appointment in Sociology. His research examines media systems through comparative analysis, focusing on ownership structures, journalistic practices, and democratic discourse. Award-winning works include Shaping Immigration News (recipient of four book awards) and How Media Ownership Matters (2025), analyzing media's role in shaping public debate across nations.

His research employs sociological frameworks to investigate how media ownership forms influence news content, particularly regarding immigration and political issues. Recent publications address paywall impacts on information access and foundations' role in journalism sustainability. Benson's work has been featured in major international media outlets including The Atlantic, Columbia Journalism Review, and Le Monde.