Sam Freedman’s Legacy: 35 Years of Shaping Journalistic Book Writers

On the eve of his final semester after 35 years of teaching, Sam Freedman dreamt he might miss his class. Upon waking, he felt an unexpected sense of relief — a reminder that even after decades, the pre-class nerves remained.

Freedman has long held the belief that the most challenging work should inspire a sense of apprehension.

“Even now, years later, I still feel anxious the night before and am focused on arriving by 7:15 a.m. to prepare for all of you,” Freedman shared with his students on a January Monday morning, dressed in the same dark suit he purchased in 1989 when he first began teaching and realized the need for professional attire.

The seminar Freedman started at Columbia Journalism School in 1991 was an experiment: Could students craft a viable book proposal within a single semester? The outcome has far exceeded expectations, with 113 book deals and 95 published titles emerging from roughly 675 participants.

This spring marked Freedman’s final time leading the course. He chose to step away rather than become the kind of professor who relies on outdated materials and leaves students wishing they had experienced the class during its prime. The school currently has no plans to continue the seminar in its existing format.

The dean of Columbia Journalism School described the course as an institution in its own right, noting that Freedman’s retirement truly signifies the close of an era. The two regularly met to exchange ideas about books and teaching, highlighting Freedman’s enduring impact.