John Cooper

Disclaimer: While place descriptions and news events may coincide with the real world, all characters and the plot are fictional.
== Biography ==
=== Education ===
John Cooper doesn't have an advanced degree.
=== Work ===
==== The Oregonian ====
John Cooper was a reporter at The Oregonian newspaper for the 35 years before retiring. When he found retirement boring, he applied for the position of Faculty Advisor for Eyewitness News. 
==== Portland State University ====
In May 2020, John Cooper has been the non-tenured part-time Faculty Advisor for Eyewitness News at Portland State University for nearly 10 years. He took over as advisor the year after Kevin Tighe was editor-in-chief.
John attends the newsroom most afternoons, and is available by phone if the staff have questions. He's committed to freedom of the press, is happy to be a resource to the students, and a buffer protecting them from administration interference without taking over. Emily says John Cooper goes over protocol with the editors each term, including what to do is police request entry to the building. 
When the governor of Oregon issues a stay-at-home order for COVID-19 in March 2020, EWN leadership decide that EWN should be viewed as an essential service and allowed to stay in operation. John Cooper supports their decision when it is raised at the PSU Cabinet meeting. He notes that journalists all over the city are risking their lives to provide residents with the best possible information, and that EWN is considered a trustworthy source of information.
===== Book 1: Stories We Tell =====
On Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2020 John is contacted by Ryan Matthews to follow up an emailed draft of EWN's intent to stay on-air year around. John says it's a very logical and well laid out plan, but reminds Ryan that what EWN brings to the media world is a creative approach to news. They should only go ahead if doing so will be 'the most fun thing ever'. Ryan doesn't want to release the final memo until after the Student Fee Committee's meeting the following night. John says he fully supports Ryan.
On Thursday morning, Michelle Stewart asks John Cooper to email his recommendation about EWN's proposed broadcast expansion to the Media Board. He sends a copy of the draft to Ryan Matthews.
===== Book 2: Choose =====
When a group of men claiming to be police arrive at midnight on Thursday October 15, 2020 wanting to search the EWN building, Emily calls Prof Cooper for advice. He calls attorney Karen Young and they go to meet Ryan at the bottom of the EWN fire stairs. Ryan briefs Karen on what the police have said, that they won't show a warrant, give their names or badge numbers, or identify their agency. She heads around the corner into 11th Ave with Ryan and John close behind. Five men in black tactical gear are standing around the intercom. Ryan and Cooper remain silent while Karen introduces herself as an attorney representing EWN and its staff and covers the legal obligations if wanting to enter the building. The team leader repeatedly refuses to comply, and asks who Ryan and Cooper are. Karen says that unlike police, they're not legally required to give information. One of the men shines a torch in their faces, and Ryan hears a taser engage. Karen asks if they're 'really going to tase an attorney and her clients on the sidewalk? And then what?' She tells them to identify themselves or leave. The team leave in an unmarked dark van. Cooper says he's recording the conversation, but Ryan laughs and says EWN has been recording and broadcasting since the men showed up. Cooper says that explains why he has 3 missed calls from the Provost. Ryan thanks Karen and Prof Cooper for coming, and they leave.
On Sunday October 18, Prof Cooper arrives a little late to the editors' meeting, and sits chatting with Sarah and answering questions. He asks Carroll if they are sure about publishing the photos, as it will be a controversial story. Cooper calls the provost 15 minutes before they go to air. He says McShane isn't happy, but that's OK. Ryan asks if Prof Cooper wants to visit J.J., and he says he'll go during visiting hours the following day. He asks if J.J. has somewhere to stay when released, and Ryan tells him of Rev. Washington's offer. Cooper goes with Ryan, Will and Carroll, as they go down to the business office's conference room on the ground floor, and then leaves.
===== Book 3: Don't Go =====
Emily Andersen calls Professor Cooper on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, and asks him to call the Provost. Ryan wants the Provost to come to EWN for a conversation that night as ICE has contacted EWN looking for Teresa Valdez. ICE could jeopardize the future of a lot of PSU students, and possibly PSU itself. He arrives at EWN at 9pm, just after McShane, and Ryan takes them into the conference room on the ground floor. He tells them that ICE had called wanting the whereabouts of a former student who worked at EWN four years previously. What had alarmed Ryan was that they called just three hours after she dropped by the newsroom for a visit. Cooper asks why Teresa was there, and Ryan says that he and Teresa had been a couple while she was at EWN, and she had come by to introduce him to his son. He tells them of the immigration status of Teresa and her family. Prof Cooper asks what Ryan is doing with his son, and he replies that Cage Washington's parents have taken them under their wing. When McShane leaves, Cooper asks Ryan about the tension between him and McShane. Ryan agrees it's 'old stuff', and Cooper offers to listen if Ryan wants to talk about more than EWN matters.
At the 4pm meeting in the EIC office on Tuesday, October 27, Ben mentions that Professor Cooper is helping Bianca Parks with silhouette interviews for her Dreamer series.
Following the special session of the Media Board that evening to approve Emily Andersen and Cage Washington as joint acting Editors-in-Chief, Cooper asks Ryan if he knows about the story Bianca is doing. Ryan nods and thanks Cooper for helping her. Cooper says it's his pleasure, as leaving the newsroom can be like going through withdrawal. He offers to put in a word at The Oregonian for Ryan, when he's ready. Ryan thanks him and says he'll keep it in mind. Cooper says he has a date he doesn't want to be late for, and Ryan asks if it's with Karen Young, the attorney. They leave the building together with Cooper walking toward his condo downtown.
====Book 4: Hold Me====
*Tuesday December 1, 2020 3:30pm: Prof Cooper joins the Zoom meeting with EWN department heads and Provost McShane to discuss what's known of current COVID infection numbers, and how EWN will respond. When the meeting ends, Cage Washington asks Cooper if he has anything to add, and he says they know where to find him for help, and he's not going anywhere. 
---
John Cooper plans to retire as faculty advisor for EWN in 2021.
== Physical Appearance ==
John is 69-years-old in May 2020. 
== Personality ==
=== Book 1: Stories We Tell ===
On Tuesday June 2, 2020 Ryan asks John how he's handling the isolation with COVID. John says he still has coffee with friends and colleagues over Zoom.
=== Book 2: Choose ===
Cooper's title of Professor is a term of respect from the EWN staff. In over 10 years as adviser, he has never overstepped his position to try to dictate or intimidate the staff, and Ryan knows how rare that is.
== Relationships ==
Until 2021, he has been wary of Andrew McShane, the former provost and now interim president of PSU. In part this is because John has a much younger step-sister, Sharon Kingsolver. Sharon has told stories of the 'night world' of the BDSM community, and so John is aware of McShane's 'other life'. Sharon speaks highly of McShane, crediting him with being able to trust again after coming out of an ugly marriage, so while John does not disapprove of McShane, he has been uncomfortable about knowing private information about him. 
John has also heard that Ryan Matthews was a protege of the Maestro, and has watched Ryan struggle to recover himself.
== Residence ==
He lives in a downtown condo within walking distance of the EWN newsroom.
Category:Character
Category:EWN
Category:PSU