Stephen Joseph Samuel Cole (born 29 March 1954) is a retired British journalist, producer, news anchor and television presenter. He was the creative force behind BBC Click and its first host from 2000-2006. Cole was also part of the original launch lineup for Sky News in 1989, the revamped CNN International in 1995 and the launch of Al Jazeera English in 2006, as well as anchoring for BBC World News from 1996-2006.
Cole was born on 29 March 1954, in Hereford, England, to Brian Cole, a businessman, and Patricia Cole (née Smith), who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during World War II at Bletchley Park,[1] where she was tasked with decrypting Luftwaffe signals.[2] He attended the independent Solihull School. At the age of 19, he received occupational guidance which recommended a career with HM Customs & Excise, in agriculture, or in journalism.[3]
Career
After receiving his National Certificate for the Training of Journalists from Cardiff University, Cole was hired by the Caters News Agency[3] as a print reporter on national news and sports. His baptism of fire came during the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974. Having been in the city on another assignment the night of the attack, Cole covered the aftermath and the subsequent trials.[1] From 1978 to 1989, Cole broke into television news, filing reports for ITN and BBC Nationwide.
Returning to the UK in 1996, Cole joined BBC World News as an anchor. In May of 2005, 11,000 journalists, producers and technicians went on a one-day strike.[4] As a non-union member under contract Cole was brought in to anchor the flagship Six O'Clock and Ten O'Clock News on BBC One, temporarily replacing regular newsreaders Sian Williams, George Alagiah and Huw Edwards.
In the year 2000, BBC management approached Cole about creating a new show for the network, offering him a choice between business and Information Technology (IT). He chose the latter, and BBC Click Online was born.[1] Growing to reach a global audience in over 100 countries under Cole's tenure as producer and host from 2000-2006, Click Online - since renamed to simply Click - recently celebrated its 1,000th episode.[5] Cole interviewed some of the biggest names in tech at the time, including Bill Gates and Larry Ellison.
From 2019 until his retirement from broadcast television in 2022, Cole was the executive producer and host of The Agenda with Stephen Cole,[9] the flagship current affairs program of CGTN Europe, the Chinese state broadcaster. Since his retirement, Cole continues to work as a guest lecturer, event host and moderator.
Personal life
Cole is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and has been a judge in the TV category, and has also hosted the Royal Television Society Technology Awards.[10] He has also chaired the General Conference of UNESCO and hosted the Eurasian Media Forum and the World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha.[11]
A huge rugby fan, Cole is a supporter of the London Welsh RFC, having previously served as a club Director.[1]
^CGTN YouTube channel, What is it like to be an international news anchor for decades?, 14 April 2021, retrieved 7 June 2022
^Kamper, Lucy (9 December 2005). "Stephen Cole appointed as Al-Jazeera London news anchor | Smart Moves". www.journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Stephen Cole profile". Global Thinkers Forum. Retrieved 7 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
March 27, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Stephen Joseph Samuel Cole born 29 March 1954 is a retired British journalist producer news anchor and television presenter He was the creative force behind BBC Click and its first host from 2000 2006 Cole was also part of the original launch lineup for Sky News in 1989 the revamped CNN International in 1995 and the launch of Al Jazeera English in 2006 as well as anchoring for BBC World News from 1996 2006 Stephen ColeBorn 1954 03 29 29 March 1954 age 68 Hereford United KingdomAlma materSolihull SchoolOccupation s journalist presenter newsreaderYears active1974 2022Employer s ITN Sky News BBC CNN Al Jazeera CGTNPartnerAnn MarieChildren3Websitehttp www stephen cole co uk Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life EditCole was born on 29 March 1954 in Hereford England to Brian Cole a businessman and Patricia Cole nee Smith who served in the Women s Auxiliary Air Force WAAF during World War II at Bletchley Park 1 where she was tasked with decrypting Luftwaffe signals 2 He attended the independent Solihull School At the age of 19 he received occupational guidance which recommended a career with HM Customs amp Excise in agriculture or in journalism 3 Career EditAfter receiving his National Certificate for the Training of Journalists from Cardiff University Cole was hired by the Caters News Agency 3 as a print reporter on national news and sports His baptism of fire came during the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974 Having been in the city on another assignment the night of the attack Cole covered the aftermath and the subsequent trials 1 From 1978 to 1989 Cole broke into television news filing reports for ITN and BBC Nationwide In 1989 Cole was hired as an anchor for Sky News the first 24 hour television news channel in Britain where he reported on the Fall of the Berlin Wall the dissolution of the Soviet Union the Gulf War and the Bosnian War In 1994 Cole moved to Atlanta Georgia to anchor for CNN International as part of a re launch and re branding of the channel Returning to the UK in 1996 Cole joined BBC World News as an anchor In May of 2005 11 000 journalists producers and technicians went on a one day strike 4 As a non union member under contract Cole was brought in to anchor the flagship Six O Clock and Ten O Clock News on BBC One temporarily replacing regular newsreaders Sian Williams George Alagiah and Huw Edwards In the year 2000 BBC management approached Cole about creating a new show for the network offering him a choice between business and Information Technology IT He chose the latter and BBC Click Online was born 1 Growing to reach a global audience in over 100 countries under Cole s tenure as producer and host from 2000 2006 Click Online since renamed to simply Click recently celebrated its 1 000th episode 5 Cole interviewed some of the biggest names in tech at the time including Bill Gates and Larry Ellison When Al Jazeera launched its English language service in 2006 along with other British broadcasters like David Frost Cole was quickly snapped up 6 as senior anchor and news editor in part due to the exposure he received during the BBC strike 7 Cole also reported from the field on meetings of the Group of Seven the World Economic Forum in Davos and the black market sale of antiquities in Bulgaria 8 From 2019 until his retirement from broadcast television in 2022 Cole was the executive producer and host of The Agenda with Stephen Cole 9 the flagship current affairs program of CGTN Europe the Chinese state broadcaster Since his retirement Cole continues to work as a guest lecturer event host and moderator Personal life EditCole is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA and has been a judge in the TV category and has also hosted the Royal Television Society Technology Awards 10 He has also chaired the General Conference of UNESCO and hosted the Eurasian Media Forum and the World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha 11 A huge rugby fan Cole is a supporter of the London Welsh RFC having previously served as a club Director 1 Cole married Ann Marie a former producer for BBC Radio 4 in 1984 and has three sons Dominic who works in finance Daniel a Major in the British Army and Richard a neuroscientist He lives in London References Edit a b c d Stork Adam About Stephen Cole Personal web site Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Entry for Patricia Smith Bletchley Park Roll of Honour bletchleypark org uk a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Stephen Cole interview transcript page 3 PDF Media Masters Podcast Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link The TV Room National BBC Strike 2005 archive ph 4 February 2013 Archived from the original on 4 February 2013 Retrieved 7 June 2022 Click 1 000 How the pick your own path episode was made BBC News 4 July 2019 Retrieved 7 June 2022 BBC s Peter Pan joins al Jazeera The Guardian 2 December 2005 Retrieved 7 June 2022 Bowden Andrew 4 November 2010 BBC Strikes Transdiffusion Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Stephen Cole profile www aljazeera com Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link CGTN YouTube channel What is it like to be an international news anchor for decades 14 April 2021 retrieved 7 June 2022 Kamper Lucy 9 December 2005 Stephen Cole appointed as Al Jazeera London news anchor Smart Moves www journalism co uk Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Stephen Cole profile Global Thinkers Forum Retrieved 7 June 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Cole broadcaster amp oldid 1146319421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,