Richard M. Cohen

Richard Cohen: A Life of Quiet Strength and Grit

Richard M. Cohen has never been loud about his strength. Instead, his life has been one of quiet rebellion against disease, against expectations, and against the limits others tried to place on him. An award-winning journalist and author, Cohen’s story is not only about breaking news, it’s about breaking barriers, especially those set by fate. Living with multiple sclerosis since his 20s and surviving two bouts of colon cancer, Cohen turned personal adversity into professional excellence, crafting a career and a life rooted in resilience, clarity, and purpose.

Early Life: A Childhood Shaped by Curiosity and Conviction

Born into a household where words mattered, Richard M. Cohen was raised in the bustle of mid-century America, a time of sweeping change. His father, Herbert Cohen, was a successful lawyer, and the household was steeped in intellectual rigour and sharp wit. Early on, Richard showed an insatiable curiosity expressed in his love for asking questions and telling stories. But more than that, he was observant. He watched the world closely, picking up on subtleties others missed. It was a trait that would later define his career as a journalist.

Cohen’s early years were marked not by drama but by determination. His upbringing was relatively stable, but even in childhood, he had the sense that life could turn quickly, and one needed to be ready to meet it head-on. That mindset would serve him well in the years to come.

Education as a Launchpad, Not a Finish Line

Cohen’s intellectual gifts found a natural home at Claremont Men’s College (now part of Claremont McKenna College), where he majored in political science. His time there wasn’t just academic—it was formative. He became fascinated by the intersection of politics, society, and storytelling, sharpening his analytical thinking and writing skills.

Later, at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Cohen discovered what would become his professional compass: a commitment to truth-telling, even when the truth was inconvenient. It was during this period that journalism became not just a job but a calling.

A Career in Phases

Early Career: Entering the Newsroom

Richard M. Cohen cut his teeth in television journalism in the 1970s, just as the medium was gaining unprecedented influence. He began as a producer and quickly rose through the ranks with stints at CBS News and PBS. His early work showed his signature style, which was incisive, thoughtful, and relentlessly thorough.

But even as his professional star rose, life threw him a curveball: at just 25, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In an industry obsessed with appearances and speed, the diagnosis could have ended his career before it truly began. Instead, Cohen chose not to disclose it for years, continuing to work under enormous pressure, battling fatigue and vision problems, and never letting the illness define him. That silence, he later revealed, was both strategic and painful.

Major Achievements: Journalism with Impact

Cohen became a senior producer for CBS News and a producer for CNN, where his work won him three Emmy Awards. His reputation as a fierce but fair journalist grew. He covered political conventions, wars, and breaking stories with equal depth. But what made Cohen stand out was his empathy, his ability to see behind the headlines and bring out the human story.

Behind the camera, he was known as a mentor who was generous with his time, sharp in his feedback, and unsparing in his pursuit of truth. In an era of soundbites, Cohen championed nuance.

Later Career: Writing Through the Pain

As the physical toll of MS became harder to manage, Cohen shifted from television to print and authorship. In 2004, he published Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness, a searingly honest memoir about living with chronic illness. The book was both a confession and a defiance. In it, Cohen laid bare the daily emotional, physical, and psychological struggles of life with MS, along with the burden of secrecy.

Later came Strong at the Broken Places (2008), a collection of profiles about others living with chronic illness. In choosing to tell their stories, Cohen showed the deep humanity and commonality in suffering and survival.

Personal Life: A Marriage of Minds and Strengths

Cohen’s personal life has often intersected with the public eye through his marriage to Meredith Vieira, a well-known television journalist and host. Together, they have weathered the challenges of illness and fame with remarkable grace. Vieira has often spoken of Cohen’s strength, his dark humour, and his refusal to surrender to bitterness.

They raised three children together, and Cohen has often said that family has been his anchor and his reason for pushing forward. He is known for his dry wit, his refusal to accept pity, and his love of books and storytelling. Despite vision loss and limited mobility, he continues to write and speak out.

Legacy: The Storyteller Who Refused to Be Silenced

Richard M. Cohen’s legacy is one of relentless honesty. In a world that often rewards façades, Cohen chose transparency. In a field obsessed with perfection, he embraced vulnerability. And in a life filled with pain, he chose purpose.

His contributions to journalism are significant, not only for their content but for the courage it took to keep producing them. He redefined what it means to be a journalist with a disability, opening the door for conversations around chronic illness, workplace accommodations, and mental health.

But perhaps more enduring is the example he set: that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it writes. Sometimes, it gets up slowly in the morning, pours a cup of coffee, and goes back to work. That, more than the awards or the headlines, is Richard M. Cohen’s most powerful story.