Evanston, Ill., May 23, 2012 — Medill launched the Spiegel Digital & Database Research Initiative, a new center focused on leveraging academic research to solve marketing industry-impacting problems that will improve financial results.

Led by Executive Director Tom Collinger and Research Director Ed Malthouse, the research will partner experienced faculty researchers with leading practitioners to address marketing and communications issues with digital and database research, and to prove and validate results in the market.

This research benefits companies that might not currently devote sufficient resources to independent research and analysis of this type, as well as students at Northwestern University and the broader academic community.

The Spiegel Research Initiative was established with a generous gift from Medill Professor Emeritus Edward J. Spiegel and his wife, Audrey, and fortified by the support of corporations and alumni and friends of Medill. It will be challenged and...