Lewis A. Friedland

Lewis A. Friedland is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the School of Journalism & Mass Communication and the Department of Sociology. He founded and directs the Center for Communication and Democracy, focusing on civic journalism, communication research methods, and media's role in public life.

His research spans three major areas: youth civic engagement, community media ecologies, and the theory of communicative action. Friedland's work integrates sociology and journalism, examining civil society, international news reporting, and technological impacts on the public sphere.

His notable publications include books analyzing public journalism, civic innovation, and global news services. Friedland's research has been funded by the Ford Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, and Knight Foundation, among others.

• du Pont-Columbia Award
• Emmy Award
• Society for Professional Journalists Award
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Award

Friedland teaches courses on in-depth reporting, mass communication theory, and research methods. He previously worked as a news producer at CBS and NBC affiliates, bringing practical media experience to his academic work.