Cokie Roberts, Pioneering Journalist Who Helped Shape NPR, Dies At 75

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September 17th, 2019

Born into a political class, Cokie Roberts quickly became a seasoned Washington insider who developed a distinctive voice known by millions. The longtime Washington author, journalist and commentator died Tuesday.

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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 because of 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.

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