Bios

Barbara Cochran became president of RTNDA and RTNDF in 1997. RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted to electronic journalism, representing local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. RTNDF, a 501(c)3 organization, promotes excellence in electronic journalism through research, education and training for news professionals and journalism students.

Cochran is a leading advocate for First Amendment rights. She has been at the forefront of the major issues facing electronic journalists, including fighting for cameras and microphones in state and federal courtrooms, protecting journalists’ access in post-9/11 America, opposing government secrecy and battling intrusive regulation of news content. She has led RTNDA’s sponsorship of Sunshine Week, an annual campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of open government.

She is also a leading proponent for diversity in the newsroom and in news coverage. With UNITY: Journalists of Color, she convened a diversity summit in 2004 that brought together industry leaders in a frank conversation.

Cochran frequently speaks on topics such as First Amendment rights, the Freedom of Information Act, cameras and microphones in the courtroom, broadcast standards and media ethics. She has been interviewed as a media expert on television and radio programs, including CNN’s Reliable Sources, CBS, NBC, ABC, C-Span, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Court TV and National Public Radio.

An industry insider, Cochran worked as a journalist and news executive in Washington, DC, for 28 years, 11 in print and 17 in broadcasting. Before joining RTNDA/F, she held the following positions:

•Vice president and Washington bureau chief, CBS News
•Executive producer, NBC’s Meet the Press
•Vice president of news, National Public Radio
•Managing editor, Washington Star

Cochran has been recognized for her efforts on behalf of electronic journalism with the Media Institute’s Freedom of Speech Award and the American Women in Radio and Television Award for Allied Services. In 2008 Cochran received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Broadcasting, given by the University of Georgia's DiGamma Kappa student society and the Edith Wortman First Amendment Award from The Matrix Foundation. During her tenure, RTNDA received the University of Missouri’s Honor Award and the RTNDA Canada Award of Excellence.

An active member of professional organizations, Cochran serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland College of Journalism, the Advisory Committee of the Newseum, and the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. She serves on the board of the Peabody Awards and is a judge for the Hearst Journalism Awards for college journalism students. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Call for Action. She was a juror for the DuPont Columbia Awards for nine years. She was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the International Women’s Media Foundation.

Cochran has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She and her husband, John Cochran, senior correspondent for ABC News, live in Washington.