Veteran News reporter explains why today’s writers are not cutting it.

Frederick Cole is an expert at editing. Today's journalists are taking a plunder with their reporting. It's either not good, doesn't have the facts or simple things like spelling may be in correct. Cole gives a firm side on what he thinks should be done in school to help the future journalists get the job done right.

Today I had the lucky chance of interviewing, Frederick Cole. He is an extremely successful and recently retired editor. When I arrived for the interview at his hotel I noticed his strong, recognizable features. He has overly white hair, has a ruddy completion, is very thin and wears a bold blue suit. He has a history of being intimidating but still smiles as if to keep my calm so I’m not too timid in the interview. I wanted to talk to him about life after editing, and what he thinks about reporting these days, opposed to what it was like when he first started his career. When I asked him what life was like after editing, he sternly responded “I still think of myself as an editor, I can’t get out of this business”.

Cole, 83, never graduated from high school, and barley got past the 8^th grade. This will come to a surprise to anyone, because he is extremely successful and talented. He has reported for several huge media outlets such as The Houston Chronicle, San Fransisco Examiner and was an advisor for our own Denver Post. He considered the newsroom the classroom and didn’t pay much attention to the other subjects provided in his childhood education. “I'm not sure that youngsters take to learning the way we did, and this is showing up in the young men and women who come into the newsroom as beginners. Editors and educators have a common objective: We want to strive for optimum quality in our work.” He then went on to complain about how today’s news reporters are simply just not “cutting it” and could use a little help. “What we need to do is candidly appraise the weaknesses of today's journalism education—and then do something about it.” He states that today’s new reporters are weak in the English language and often can’t do simple things correctly like spelling.

When asked what can be done to improve today’s youth and their writing skills, Cole sternly responded, “If students can't dig, write or spell, counsel them—or flunk them out. You'll be doing them a favor, for we don't want them.” Referring to classroom teachers. Overall, Coles main point in the interview is that today’s journalism writers are simply not good, and that a lot should be done about it, to prevent these stories from being published. Not to mention prevent these “journalists” from getting their job. His final point was that “Many students are going to be terribly disappointed because they simply are in the wrong field. Journalism requires an outlook, a mental discipline, a curiosity and, above all, a willingness to work hard day and night.”