Janet Cooke

Quick Facts

Full Name	Janet Cooke
Occupation	Journalist
Date Of Birth	Jul 23, 1954(1954-07-23)
Age	70
Birthplace	Toledo
Country	United States
Birth City	Ohio
Horoscope	Cancer

Janet Cooke Biography

Janet Cooke is one of the most popular and richest Journalist who was born on July 23, 1954 in Toledo, Ohio, United States. Janet Leslie Cooke, born July 23, 1954, is an American journalist. For an article she wrote for The Washington Post, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1981. Later, it was discovered that the story had been falsified. Cooke was the first person to receive the Pulitzer after she admitted to fabricating stories. Teresa Carpenter, a nominee who had lost Cooke to the Pulitzer, was awarded the Pulitzer.

Although there were some doubts within the Post about the story’s authenticity, the paper supported it and Bob Woodward, assistant managing editor submitted the story to the Pulitzer Prize. Cooke received the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1981 on April 13.

I believed it, we published it. Official questions had been raised, but we stood by the story and her. Internal questions had been raised, but none about her other work. The reports were about the story not sounding right, being based on anonymous sources, and primarily about purported lies [about] her personal life—[told by three reporters], two she had dated and one who felt in close competition with her. I think that the decision to nominate the story for a Pulitzer is of minimal consequence. I also think that it won is of little consequence. It is a brilliant story—fake and fraud that it is. It would be absurd for me or any other editor to review the authenticity or accuracy of stories that are nominated for prizes.

Cooke resigned, and the prize was returned to her. Gabriel Garcia Marquez stated that Cooke won the Pulitzer Prize, but that it was unfair that she did not win the Nobel Prize in Literature. (The 1981 Pulitzer was awarded to Teresa Carpenter, The Village Voice. Cooke spoke on Phil Donahue’s January 1982 show and stated that she was influenced by the Post’s high-pressure environment. Cooke stated that she had been told by sources about Jimmy’s existence, but was unable to locate him. She eventually wrote a story about him to please her editors.

Janet Cooke Net Worth

Janet Cooke is one of the richest Journalist from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Janet Cooke 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Cooke published a profile about the life of a heroin addict aged eight in a Post article titled “Jimmy’s World” on September 28, 1980. Cooke described the “needle markings freckling his baby-smooth, brown skin.” Marion Barry, the then-mayor of Washington, D.C., was moved by the story and felt empathy for him. Barry and other city officials organised an extensive police search for the boy. This failed and led to claims of fraud. Barry, under pressure from the public, lied to claim that Jimmy was in city care and was receiving treatment. Jimmy was declared dead soon after.

Cooke was appointed to the Washington Post’s “Weeklies” section in 1980 by Vivian Aplin Brownlee, editor. Cooke claimed that she received a bachelor’s degree at Vassar College, as well as a master’s from the University of Toledo. She also claimed that she was the recipient of a journalism award while she was at the Toledo Blade. Cooke attended Vassar College for one year but had only received a bachelor’s from Toledo.

In 1996, Cooke gave an interview about the “Jimmy’s World” episode to GQ reporter Mike Sager, her former boyfriend and Washington Post colleague. Cooke and Sager sold the film rights to the story to Tri-Star Pictures for $1.6 million, but the project never moved past the script stage. As of 2016, wrote Sager in the Columbia Journalism Review, “she is living within the borders of the continental United States, within a family setting, and pursuing a career that does not primarily involve writing.”

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Janet Cooke height Not available right now. Janet weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Janet Cooke Dating?

According to our records, Janet Cooke is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Janet Cooke’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Janet Cooke. You may help us to build the dating records for Janet Cooke!

Facts & Trivia

Janet Ranked on the list of most popular Journalist. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Janet Cooke celebrates birthday on July 23 of every year.