Jim Cook Jr.
| James R. Cook, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| File:Jim Cook Jr. Levoy.jpeg
Jim Cook Jr. at the grand opening gala of the Levoy Theatre in September 2012.
|
|
| Born | August 25, 1987 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Residence | Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.A., Journalism |
| Alma mater | Rowan University |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Employer | United States Army |
| Website | http://www.jimcookjr.com |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | Nov. 2013 to present |
| Rank | Specialist (p)(E-4) |
| Awards | National Defense Medal Army Service Ribbon Army Achievement Medal (3) Korea Defense Service Medal |
Jim Cook Jr. (born August 25, 1987 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a journalist and a playwright who had served as a soldier in the United States Army. In 2012, Cook ran a successful election campaign by only using Facebook and Twitter.[1]
Contents
Biography
Cook graduated from Rowan University in May 2010 and joined the South Jersey Times as a news reporter in November.
In September 2012, Cook wrote and produced "Roundabout: A New Amusement," a play about the history of the Levoy Theatre. The play was performed for the theater's grand opening gala.[2]
Around 10 p.m. the night before the general 2012 election, Cook launched a last minute bid with no money and less than 24 hours to win a seat on the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District school board of education.[3] Later that month, it was announced that Cook had won the seat by only using eight status updates on Facebook and a small amount of tweets on Twitter.[4]
Due to his position as a journalist, Cook declined the BOE appointment.[5]
In 2013, Cook starred as Enjolras in Les Miserables, and Private Hennesey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues at the Levoy Theatre.[6]
On Oct. 3, 2013, Cook announced his departure from the South Jersey Times and his enlistment into the United States Army.[7] Shortly after departing the South Jersey Times, Cook began blogging for the United States Army.[8] He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina on February 20, 2014.
Stray electricity investigation
From 2010 to 2013 at the South Jersey Times (then The News of Cumberland County), Cook worked closely with former 1981 NFL Baltimore Colt defensive lineman Anthony Bubba Green on a series investigating the city of Baltimore, Md. in the electrocution death of Green's daughter Deanna in Druid Hill Park in 2006. [9] The series — along with various legal proceedings [10] — assisted in the creation of the Deanna Camille Green Rule, which requires electric companies in Maryland to survey for contact voltage (stray electricity). The overall intention of the rule is to prevent accidental electrocutions. [11]
The series — later titled Battling Stray Electricity: A family's journey — won a 2010 New Jersey Press Association award in Public Service. [12]
Work
• A Christmas Carol — An adaptation (2010)
• Roundabout — A New Amusement (2012)
Awards
• New Jersey Press Association 2010 | Lloyd P. Burns Award for Public Service [13]
• New Jersey Press Association 2012 | Breaking News [14]
National Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Achievement Medal
References
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- ↑ Levoy celebrates grand opening with song, applause, The Daily Journal.com, Sep 23, 2012
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- ↑ [1], South Jersey Times, March 21, 2013
- ↑ [2] The News of Cumberland County, November 11, 2010
- ↑ [3] Maryland: Office of the Secretary of State. 20.50.11.00. Title 20 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Subtitle 50 SERVICE SUPPLIED BY ELECTRIC COMPANIES Chapter 11 Deanna Camille Green Rule ― Contact Voltage Survey Requirement and Reporting Authority: Public Utilities Article, §2-113, 2-121, 5-101, and 5-303, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- ↑ [4] New Jersey Press Association 2010 Better Newspaper Contest results. Editorial, daily.
- ↑ [5]
- ↑ [6]
External links
- Romanesko, Jim. "Journalist wins school board seat with 24-hour write-in campaign on Facebook" "JimRomanesko.com, November 26, 2012.
- Moire, Jennifer. "New Jersey Journalist uses only Facebook to win local election", AllFacebook.com, November 27, 2012.
- Rearick, Kristie. "Levoy Theatre celebrates grand opening with vaudeville, silent film, magic, music" "South Jersey Times | NJ.com" September 25, 2012
- Jim Cook Jr. - South Jersey Times
