Ed Madison, PhD ’12 (communication and society)

Mentorship Award Winner

Ed Madison is a media professional with a 30-year track record as an executive producer/director, entrepreneur, and innovative educator. He is an associate professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) and has affiliated faculty status with the College of Education (COE). He is also the author of two books: Newsworthy: Cultivating Critical Thinkers, Readers, and Writers in English Language Arts Classrooms and Reimagining Journalism in a Post Truth World: How Late-Night Comedians, Internet Trolls, and Savvy Reporters Are Transforming News, with co-author Ben DeJarnette.

Madison is also co-founder and executive director of the Journalistic Learning Initiative (JLI), a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower students to discover their voice, improve academic outcomes, and engage in self-directed learning through project-based storytelling. Since 2015, JLI has positively benefited more than 6,000 students at 20+ middle and high schools in Oregon and California.

JLI is the centerpiece of Madison’s research. It informs his work with College of Education colleagues Jenefer Husman, Ross Anderson, and Matthew Kim who collaborated to develop “My STEM Story,” a $1.2 million federal grant project funded by the National Science Foundation. The project explores the use of “near-peer” mentorships and video narratives as an intervention to inspire students of color to consider science-related careers.