Cokie Roberts, Pioneering Female Journalist Who Helped Shape NPR, Dies at 75

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Read full story at https://www.npr.org/2019/09/17/761050916/cokie-roberts-pioneering-female-journalist-who-helped-shape-npr-dies-at-75

Veteran journalist Cokie Roberts, who joined an upstart NPR in 1978 and left an indelible imprint on the growing network with her coverage of Washington politics before later going to ABC News, has died. She was 75.

Roberts died Tuesday due to complications from breast cancer, according to a family statement.

A bestselling author and Emmy Award winner, Roberts was one of NPR's most recognizable voices and is considered one of a handful of pioneering female journalists — along with Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg — who helped shape the public broadcaster's sound and culture at a time when few women held prominent roles in journalism.

[2naSalit]

1. I remember the early days of NPR

and miss them.

RIP. Cokie.

[keithbvadu2]

2. Cokie's Law - about politics and media coverage...

Cokie's Law - about politics and media coverage...

Cokie's Law states that it does not matter if it is true or not. It's out there.

Cokie Roberts journalist, author, reporter

Then they can apologize in a much smaller forum. (If they do)

[snowybirdie]

3. RIP Cokie

A real pioneer.

[Coventina]

4. Sorry, but, I grew to HATE her during the Bush years. She was one huge Bush apologist.

She was the biggest reason why I quit giving money to NPR.

I, for one, am glad I never have to hear her voice again.

I'm not gonna grave dance, but I'm not going to pretend I'm sorry she's gone.

[ConnorMarc]

6. I, too, found her to be too much of a rightwing apologist

I noticed it more in the Obama years.

Didn't hate her, as yet, but sure wasn't feeling her rhetoric. Like at all.

I did, however, find her to be an attractive older woman.

Didn't like her rhetoric.

Sorry to hear of her passing.

I'm guessing she must have gotten sick recently, last time I remember seeing her on TV she looked fine.

May she rest in peace.

[malaise]

7. Her father was Democrat Thomas Hale Boggs

He disappeared in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972

Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. (February 15, 1914 – disappeared October 16, 1972) was an American Democratic politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the House majority leader and a member of the Warren Commission.

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I too found her way too supportive of Dumbya.

Still she was a progressive in an earlier life.

[AllyCat]

5. Oh my goodness.

She was one of the first voices I remember hearing when I started listening to NPR. Safe passage ma’am.

[UpInArms]

8. she openly wept on air the night Bill Clinton defeated GHWB

eom

[Coventina]

10. And not tears of joy.

[UpInArms]

11. I despised her

And the world is made better by her absence

[Coventina]

14. I did as well. And agree the world is better off without her.

People like her paved the way for Trump.

[riversedge]

9. May her family find peace.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. I never forgave her for her abominable coverage of the Elian Gonzalez kidnapping.

I generally found her to be a RW hack, and she's one of the reasons I basically stopped listening to NPR.

Not glad she's dead or anything, just not at all impressed with her journalistic career.

[Ilsa]

13. I appreciate that she was a groundbreaker

for women's careers in media and politics. But I had to stop listening to her.

I wish her family peace and a gentle passing for her.

[KG]

15. may have been a 'trailblazer' but never seemed to me to have a clue what was going on.

sounded like she cribbed of the morning papers before her morning npr gig.