Lewis A. Friedland

Lewis A. Friedland is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Sociology, and Department of Educational Psychology. His research focuses on the public sphere, civil society, communication technology, social networks, and qualitative methods.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Brandeis University (1985)
• A.B. in Journalism, Washington University in St. Louis (1974)

Friedland's work examines the intersection of communication technologies, democratic processes, and community structures. He directs the Center for Communication and Democracy and co-founded the Civic Practices Network (1995) and the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal (with Michael Wagner and Dhavan Shah). His research spans civic journalism, political communication, and international media, supported by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts, Kettering Foundation, and Ford Foundation.

Scientific Awards:

• du Pont-Columbia Silver Baton
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold
• Society of Professional Journalists National Award
• Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism

Friedland leads the UW 2020 project "Communication Ecologies, Political Contention, and the Crisis of Democracy" (2010–2018), analyzing political communication trends in Wisconsin. He has authored over 50 publications and pioneered early digital journalism projects like Online Wisconsin (1994) and the Madison Commons (2006).

Research Teams and Projects:

• Co-founder, Center for Communication and Civic Renewal
• Director, Center for Communication and Democracy
• Co-founder, Civic Practices Network (www.cpn.org)