Danilo Yanich is an associate professor at the School of Urban Affairs at the University of Delaware and a policy scientist at the university’s Center for Community Research & Services. He’s also a Free Press Action Fund member who cares about the impact of media consolidation on our media marketplace.

How did you first get involved with Free Press?

I initially learned about Free Press through my work with the Social Science Research Council. Coming from a public policy background, I have worked at the intersection of media, citizenship and public policy, specifically how the media form citizens’ cognitive map of public issues and what that means for the democratic process. The emphasis of Free Press on media policy and transparent media research makes it a natural partner in my work.

What media issues do you care about most?

My most recent work has been on media ownership and what media consolidation might mean for local television news content. In a larger sense, though, I am concerned about to what extent consolidation might decrease diversity and competition. The notion of a “marketplace of ideas” is only possible when there is a real marketplace.

How are you or people that you know affected by media policy issues?

When Walter Cronkite signed off with “And that’s the way it is,” we all believed him. We could have said “amen.” But that is not the way it was. News is a construction. Who constructs it? In the service of what interests? Are we, as citizens, getting the straight scoop? To the extent that media policy can keep the playing field level, to that extent we are all affected by it.

What do you hope to see change in our media?

Over the past decade or so, I think that the media have moved away from journalism and we have to move back to it. We have become polarized as a polity, and the media reflect that unfortunate circumstance. But, I think, the media have been party to that condition. What passes for some journalism today would have been rejected outright a decade ago. The notion of the Fourth Estate has been downgraded to about 3.1.

We are grateful for your ongoing support; why do contribute?

Free Press’ commitment to sound media policy based on sound and transparent research is a fundamental value to me as a citizen.