Journalism Class

Russell Baker | New York Times

New York Times: Russell Baker, Pulitzer-Winning Times Columnist and Humorist, Dies at 93

And he was as devilish in person as in print. A fellow Times columnist, Tom Wicker, recalled that Mr. Baker, talking once to college students, was asked, “What courses should a journalism school teach?”

He replied: “The ideal journalism school needs only one course. Students should be required to stand outside a closed door for six hours. Then the door would open, someone would put his head around the jamb and say, ‘No comment.’ The door would close again, and the students would be required to write 800 words against a deadline.”

Hat tip: MG Siegler