Thursday, 14 March 2024
| Ethos editor
Award winning journalist, editor joins the Board of Ethos: Centre for Christianity and Society
March 2024
Veteran journalist, writer and editor Graeme Cole has been appointed to the Board of the Ethos Centre for Christianity and Society.
Mr Cole is a multi-award-winning journalist and editor, and the 2016 winner of the Gutenberg Award for excellence in religious journalism.
Mr Cole has several decades of strong media and communication experience, as well as practice in crisis management and communication in nonprofit organisations, corporate social responsibility, government and stakeholder relations.
He began his career in journalism on a suburban newspaper in Sydney’s south before moving to The Australian as a feature writer and news journalist, which included the NSW Parliament and the industrial round. He also worked as a sports reporter with 2UE, covering news and commentary on world professional surfing - one of his enduring passions.
He later held senior communications and public affairs positions with some of Australia’s largest church-based community service and aged care providers.
Mr Cole has lectured at universities and TAFE colleges and has won 16 individual awards from the Australasian Religious Press Association for excellence in religious journalism. He has edited numerous magazines and written for more.
He attends St Andrew’s Anglican Church Cronulla. He holds a BA (Hons) in Government and Public Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Communication.
Ethos Director Dr Gordon Preece said Graeme brought vast public affairs, political and social service media experience to Ethos’ board.
‘His exemplary multi-award-winning media record and wise character, engaging a multitude of areas of everyday life ethically, is a great fit and fillip for Ethos’, Dr Preece said.
‘Graeme’s appointment will increase our reputation for engaging the Australian and global context. It enhances our strength and provides an edge to our capacity and insight.’
With the lamented and much debated demise of Eternity newspaper, there is an increased need for timely and reflective engagement with the issues that are impacting Australians. Organisations like the Ethos Centre for Christianity and Society, its Zadok and Equip publications and the Centre for Public Christianity have an even more critical role to play in bringing imaginative Christian thought to the public arena.
‘This was underlined recently by influential blogger Nils von Kalm who noted that Ethos and its publications are “the best in the country”.’
Graeme Cole said Ethos publications gave Christians a handle on the social, cultural and economic issues of the day from a sound Biblical base.
‘Ethos draws together Christian thinkers and leaders on the many challenging issues that impact not only our personal life but the expression of it in the public square – from the workplace to multi-platformed media, and from the corridors of home to those of parliament’, Mr Cole said.
‘Too often the public face of Christianity has been known for what it stands against rather than what it stands for. Sadly, this has led to the creation of predictable and piecemeal debates that reinforce irrelevance.’
‘People are looking for an applied theology that provides engagement with the realities and paradoxes of life. I look forward to serving with the Board’s experienced and gifted members and staff.’
Ethos was formed in 2010 to combine the activities and personnel of two national Christian organisations engaged with Australian society: the Zadok Institute for Christianity and Society and the Evangelical Alliance’s Department of Public Theology. In 2021 Ethos received the Gutenberg Award from the Australasian Religious Press Association for overall excellence in religious journalism.
Further information:
Dr Gordon Preece 0401 653 328 gordon@ethos.org.au