Robert W. McChesney, Media Scholar and Advocate for Democracy, Dies at 72

McChesney's death highlights his transformative contributions to media reform, scholarship, and advocacy against corporate control of media systems.

Robert W. McChesney, co-founder of Free Press and a leading critic of corporate media, passed away on March 26, 2025, at the age of 72 in Madison, Wisconsin.
McChesney authored 27 influential books, including 'Rich Media, Poor Democracy' and 'Digital Disconnect,' critiquing corporate media's impact on democracy.
He proposed bold reforms, such as the 'Citizenship News Voucher,' to empower citizens to support nonprofit journalism and counterbalance corporate influence.
A professor at the University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin, McChesney mentored a generation of scholars and activists while engaging in public advocacy.
Tributes emphasize McChesney's enduring legacy as a scholar, activist, and reformer who championed media systems that serve democratic ideals.