Fredrick Cole Opens Up on the Current State of Journalism

"We want young reporters who have enough imagination to go after the stories that are not usually done and to write them with a style and flair that will excite our readers." - Fredrick Cole.

Fredrick Coles is sitting in the lounge of the hotel is staying at. His hair is white and complexion is ruddy. This is a man that didn’t go to college, but by age 30 was a politician and a White House reporter. He has been an editor at the Chicago Sun, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner and executive Editor at the Atlas (a group of newspapers in the Chicago area). His is now 83 and still working as newspaper man. This time hired by the Denver Post as an advisor to update its makeup, coverage and website. I’m here to talk to him about the journalism and its future and how he views today’s journalists.

He extends his hand and smiles. I’m at ease as I shake his hand. We sit down and the talk. My first question is based on a Forbe.com report that states, “Journalism is Booming in the classroom, but not in the workplace. I ask, “With increased enrollment and specialization, does it have an effect on the quality of journalism?”  Enrollment in journalism programs at Columbia are up 38%, 20% at Stanford and 6% at NYU.” Coles responds, “You should be turning out graduates who want jobs in the general practice of journalism rather than specialization.” He follows up with, “Maybe it's time to be more demanding about applicants for the journalism major. I'd make all students who want to study journalism take spelling, punctuation and grammar tests as well as force them to write a story from a set of facts so that we can see whether they can use the right word in the right place.”

I ask Cole, “What advice would you give students who want a career in journalism?” He replies, “We want young reporters who have enough imagination to go after the stories that are not usually done and to write them with a style and flair that will excite our readers.” Cole elaborates further, “I'd make all students who want to study journalism take spelling, punctuation and grammar tests as well as force them to write a story from a set of facts so that we can see whether they can use the right word in the right place.”

 Cole looks off and stares out the window, he is deep in thought. I’m sure these questions weigh on him.