The Shorenstein Center, which is a division of the Kennedy School, focuses on the relationship between the press and public policy, one that Jones said is "very tangled and complex."

"Everyone knows that the media has a huge role--domestically and internationally, but there seems to be a lot of misinformation about how that works," Jones said.

Jones said his goal is "to put some precision into [the definition of the media's role], illuminate this in a way that is as precise as possible."

The end result, according to Jones, would be to "generate authoritative research that says this is what happened, this is what we should be talking about."

He said he also plans to make the center a "bully pulpit on the role of the press," an idea that Marvin Kalb, who directed the center since its founding in 1986 Kalb, emphasized during his 12-year tenure.

Kalb, who is now executive director of the center's new Washington, D.C. branch, praised Jones' selection.

"He blends the real world experience of journalism with the theoretical appreciation of the craft," said Kalb, who did not make the decision but said he was consulted in the search process.