[quantumwannabe]

The reason why that person said "learn to code" to the journalist was because when coal miners were losing their jobs, many articles were written condescendly implying that miners should "learn to code" and abandon the profession they've spent their entire lives in. Some examples [1]. It's less of an insensitive position and more of a reminder that what goes around comes around, that writing articles isn't any more secure of a profession than mining coal, and to not expect sympathy when you didn't show it to others who were previously in the same situation. I'm not saying that this writer was insensitive towards coal miners, but this is the sentiment behind the phrase.

[1] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DyC-qmDWkAAKJvU?format=jpg&name=...