author
Frederic J. (Frederic Jennings) Haskin
1872–1944
A pioneering newspaper writer who turned curiosity into a public service, helping readers find clear answers long before the internet. His syndicated question-and-answer work made him a familiar name in American journalism.
1 Audiobook
The Panama Canal
by Frederic J. (Frederic Jennings) Haskin
About the author
Born in 1872, Frederic Jennings Haskin was an American journalist and author whose career linked newspaper reporting, public information, and practical reference writing. He wrote books on government and current affairs, and his work was widely distributed in print during the early twentieth century.
Haskin is especially remembered for building a popular information bureau and question-and-answer newspaper feature that invited readers to send in factual questions by mail. The service became well known for offering accessible, researched replies on everyday subjects, giving readers a reliable source of information in an era before digital search.
He was also active in Washington journalism circles and served as president of the National Press Club in 1912. Haskin died in 1944, but his career still stands out as an early example of journalism devoted not just to reporting the news, but to helping readers understand the world around them.