Nakia Cooper

Nakia Cooper is the president of the Houston Association of Black Journalists, serving in the role since 2019. Professionally, she wears many hats; simultaneously serving as digital managing editor at KPRC 2 News, co-anchor at KTSU 90.9 FM (twice weekly), and as an adjunct online journalism professor at Texas Southern University. What makes her most proud, however, is being the creator of two successful websites: NewsWithAttitude. com (launched in 2011 and now sunset) and BayouBeatNews.com (launched in 2020). The latter, Bayou Beat News, is also a print publication, making Cooper a PROUD PUBLISHER.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

This multi-award-winning journalist, digital and social media expert proudly served as the first African American person to manage a digital media department at a Houston television news station (CW39 Houston). As a college student, Cooper interned at KHOU’s Great Day Houston and KRIV Fox 26. Working her way up, she went on to serve in leadership roles at KHOU 11 News and KPRC 2. Over the last 14 years, Cooper has helped solidify team wins for multiple TV web departments, boasting an Emmy, two Edward R. Murrow, three Associated Press and two Lone Star Press Awards for outstanding digital coverage. Cooper is also an experienced government media professional, serving as a lead media coordinator for the United States Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial campaign, the most historic count in history. In addition to supervising teams across multiple states, her duties included overseeing press conferences and regional media operations for then - US Census Director Dr. Steven Dillingham, a presidential appointee.

CHARITABLE CAUSES:

Cooper loves to give back and co-founded Sister 2 Sistah, a mentoring organization for college women of color fighting to overcome obstacles. Her “each one, teach one” hands-on approach has helped secure nearly two dozen mentees in intern and job placements across the country. Cooper's career and charitable accomplishments have been featured in Black Enterprise, USA Today, Black Doctor, the Houston Chronicle and Equal Opportunity Magazine, to name a few. She has also received a Congressional Proclamation from the Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee and a Letter of Recognition from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Education

Cooper has a Bachelor of Arts, Journalism (magna cum laude) and Master of Arts, Communications and Digital Media Studies, both received at her alma mater TSU. In addition, she has obtained her certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of South Florida.

Nakia Cooper Publisher Bayou Beat News info@bayoubeatnews.com

President Houston Association of Black Journalists coopernakia@gmail.com