He is an award-winning filmmaker and a media literacy scholar who studies the pedagogical practices of media production. His research explores the social and emotional aspects of media production such as digital empathy and civic media. Friesem works with diverse populations using the power of media production to bring media literacy skills to all students. He has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on issues of civic media pedagogy, disability and media production, media literacy curriculum for foster youth, teaching media literacy in high poverty neighborhoods, and peace-building through filmmaking.