Honorary graduates

2004

Professor Roger Cook, Broadcaster and Journalist

HonDLitt in recognition of his lifelong contribution to journalism and his support to Nottingham Trent University in journalism training and education.

Professor Roger CookRoger Cook has played a pivotal role in defining investigative journalism in the UK. Many students in the University’s Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism have benefited from his guidance and he has contributed to developing the vocational aspects of its courses.

Brought up in Australia, where he began his broadcasting career, he started work with BBC Radio Four in 1968 and went on to present both The World at One and PM. By 1973 he had created the investigative radio programme Checkpoint which he edited, produced and presented for 12 years. After he joined Central Television in 1985, the ground-breaking Cook Report was born – making the genre of investigative reporting accessible to a much larger audience.

Over 16 series, Roger travelled many thousands of miles a year in pursuit of crooks, con-artists and those in authority who dodge their responsibilities.

National recognition for his work has come via many accolades, including a BAFTA for 25 years of outstanding investigative reporting. He also co-wrote What’s Wrong With Your Rights? Highlighting cases which exposed the erosion or absence of rights we all take for granted. His memoir, Dangerous Ground, was published in 1999.