{{Short description|Scottish journalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
'''James Cook''' is a British journalist and broadcaster. He is currently Scotland Editor for BBC News and an occasional presenter of the BBC’s Newscast podcast.<ref name=BBC>{{Cite web |title=James Cook appointed BBC News Scotland Editor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/james-cook-appointed-bbc-news-scotland-editor/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en|date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208114800/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/james-cook-appointed-bbc-news-scotland-editor |archive-date=8 February 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Previously, he was Chief News Correspondent on the Nine nightly news programme on the BBC Scotland channel and, before that, Los Angeles Correspondent and Scotland Correspondent for the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3126945/|title=James Cook|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>
==Career== Educated at Forfar Academy, Cook began his career at Radio Tay in Dundee where he first read the news at the age of 15. Since joining BBC Scotland in 1998, Cook has gone on to present many news and current affairs programmes including Good Morning Scotland and Reporting Scotland.<ref name=HeraldScotland>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13210793.BBC_reporter_moves__from_Holyrood_to_Hollywood__/|title=BBC reporter moves 'from Holyrood to Hollywood'.|website=HeraldScotland|date=22 April 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>
Cook covered the lead up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum for the BBC News Channel and hosted various debates between Yes Scotland and Better Together.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scotland's referendum: James Cook and Lorna Gordon follow the campaigns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29115413 |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=BBC News |date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926012809/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29115413 |archive-date=26 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Scottish independence: The Referendum Debate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-25817623 |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=BBC News |date=18 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116231121/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-25817623 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Cook hosted "The Big, Big Debate" at the newly opened SSE Hydro in September 2014 in front of more than 5,000 16- to 17-year-old registered Scottish voters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025h0z1|title=BBC News Channel - Scotland Decides, The Big, Big Debate|website=BBC|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>
Cook became the correspondent for BBC Scotland in 2008, and he became the BBC's Los Angeles correspondent in the summer of 2015.<ref name=HeraldScotland></ref> He became the Chief News Correspondent for the Nine in early 2019,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mayhew |first1=Freddy |title=James Cook returning to Scotland as chief news correspondent for nightly 9pm bulletin on new BBC Scotland channel |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/james-cook-returns-to-scotland-as-chief-news-correspondent-for-nightly-news-programme-on-new-bbc-scotland-channel/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Press Gazette |date=24 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226221707/https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/james-cook-returns-to-scotland-as-chief-news-correspondent-for-nightly-news-programme-on-new-bbc-scotland-channel |archive-date=26 December 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in February 2022, he became the Chief Editor of BBC Scotland.<ref name=BBC></ref>
In August 2022, Scottish independence activists in Perth shouted at Cook, calling him pejorative terms such as "liar" and "scumbag rat". The activists were criticized by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and members of the BBC.<ref>{{cite news |author1=PA Media |author2=Press Gazette |title=BBC’s Scotland editor James Cook called ‘scumbag rat’ and ‘traitor’ by independence campaigners |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/james-cook-bbc-scotland-abuse/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Press Gazette |date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222003914/https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/james-cook-bbc-scotland-abuse/ |archive-date=22 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Cook later responded by tweeting, "Since this incident I have heard from producers, camera crews and engineers about the escalating abuse they face simply for bringing you the news. It is fuelled by lies about our journalism designed to make money and to avoid scrutiny. It is unacceptable in a civilised society."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meighan |first1=Craig |title=BBC Scotland journalist James Cook speaks out over abuse at Tory Perth hustings |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20675002.bbc-scotland-journalist-james-cook-speaks-abuse-tory-perth-hustings/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=The National |date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819133510/https://www.thenational.scot/news/20675002.bbc-scotland-journalist-james-cook-speaks-abuse-tory-perth-hustings/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, James}} Category:Living people Category:Scottish television presenters Category:Journalists from Glasgow Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:BBC Scotland newsreaders and journalists Category:People educated at Forfar Academy