Audrey Cooper

Last updated
Audrey Cooper
Born1977 (age 47–48)
Alma mater Boston University (BA)
OccupationJournalist
Known forFirst woman editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Chronicle

Audrey Cooper (born 1977) is an American journalist who is the editor-in-chief of The Baltimore Banner . [1] She was previously the editor in chief of the San Francisco Chronicle from 2015 to 2020, making her the first woman to hold this position. [2] [3]

Before Cooper's appointment, there were only two women Editors in Chief working at America's top 25 circulation daily newspapers, Newsday 's Debbie Henley and Nancy Barnes of the Houston Chronicle . [4]

Cooper was born in Topeka, Kansas, and grew up in the Kansas City, Kansas, area. [5] She graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Journalism and Political Science from Boston University in 1999. She worked as a journalist at the Tri-Valley Herald , the Associated Press, and the Stockton Record , all in Northern California. [3] She joined the Chronicle in 2006 as an assistant metro editor, rising to replace Stephen Proctor as managing editor in May 2013. [6] She left the Chronicle effective June 20, 2020. [5]

She was named Editor-in-Chief at WNYC Public Radio effective July 20, 2020. [7] Her hire was criticized by newsroom staff who had requested someone local who was a person of color with radio experience. [8] [9] Her early tenure was also marked with conflict with her staff, layoffs, and terminations. [9] [10] In May 2021, their union, SAG-AFTRA, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against New York Public Radio, over Cooper's actions along with other labor issues that preceded her hire. [10] [11] The two groups settled in February 2022, agreeing to increase employee wage and benefits and extend employee protections against retaliation. [12]

References

  1. ↑ Bowie, Liz (September 25, 2025). "Experienced newsroom executive Audrey Cooper to lead Banner newsroom". The Banner. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  2. ↑ "First Time Woman Named Editor In Chief Of SF Chronicle". ABC 7 News (KTO). 13 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 Rubenstein, Steve (13 January 2015). "Audrey Cooper named editor in chief of The Chronicle". SFGate. SF Chronicle. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ↑ O'Connor, Lydia (13 January 2015). "San Francisco Chronicle Names First Female Editor In Chief". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 Thomas, Owen (June 1, 2020). "Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper to leave San Francisco Chronicle". San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. ↑ Yang, Nu (6 September 2013). 10 Women to Watch, Editor & Publisher
  7. ↑ "WNYC Names Audrey Cooper Editor in Chief". 11 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Bellafante, Ginia (July 3, 2020). "WNYC Employees Demanded Diversity. They Got Another White Boss". The New York Times . Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Jacobson, Savannah (March 2, 2022). "WNYC sought change. It got turmoil". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 Fuster, Jeremy (23 May 2021). "WNYC Accused of 'Coordinated and Aggressive Campaign' Against Internal Critics in SAG-AFTRA Complain to NLRB" . Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Smith, Ben (23 May 2021). "It's the Media's 'Mean-Too' Moment. Stop Yelling and Go to Human Resources". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  12. ↑ Cho, Winston (25 February 2022). "SAG-AFTRA, New York Public Radio Settle Labor Dispute Over Layoffs, Alleged Surveillance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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