Errol Cockfield, Jr.

Errol A. Cockfield Jr. (born September 14, 1973) is an African American journalist. He is currently Press Secretary to Governor of New York David Paterson. Previously, he was the Albany bureau chief for "Newsday".

Journalism career and background

Cockfield was born in Georgetown, Guyana. He graduated from Stony Brook University with a bachelor's degree in English.Buskin, Martin. " [http://martinbuskin.org/BW04a_Mentor.htm Outstanding Campus Journalism] ". " [http://martinbuskin.org Buskin at Stony Brook] ". Retrieved April 2, 2008.] After graduating, he was chosen for Tribune Company's prestigious Minority Editorial Training Program and joined the "Los Angeles Times" as a staff reporter." [http://www.ny.gov/governor/appointments/e_cockfield.html Press Secretary - Errol Cockfield, Jr. Biography] ". "New York State". Retrieved April 2, 2008.] While in Los Angeles, Cockfield notably interviewed prominent hip hop artists, and wrote about white power skinhead attacks on blacks, prompting the county's Commission on Human Relations to study and address the disturbing trend.

He then joined the "Hartford Courant", Connecticut's largest daily newspaper, and later "Newsday", serving first as a political reporter for Nassau County, New York, then as New York City economic development reporter, and finally as its Albany Bureau Chief. In New York, his notable journalistic achievements include chronicling events World Trade Center in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001; detailing a controversial plan to build a taxpayer-financed stadium for the New York Jets in Manhattan; writing about reform of New York's stringent sentencing rules under its Rockefeller drug laws; documenting the state's effort to reinstate the death penalty; and being the he first reporter to document how a lack of state monitoring of assisted living facilities led to patient injuries, and later deaths.

He was elected President of New York Association of Black Journalists from 2001 to 2003, and sits on the board of the National Association of Black Journalists, and has been a member of both since 1994. [" [http://www.nyabj.org/presidents_corner1.html President's Corner] ". "New York Association of Black Journalists". Retrieved April 2, 2008.] He has been a freelance contributor to magazines such as "The Source", " [http://upscalemagazine.com Upscale] ", and "Vibe", has appeared on television and radio as a commentator on media, journalism and writing, and his original work has won several New York City poetry slam competitions.

Political career

Cockield was first hired in 2007 by former Governor Eliot Spitzer as Downstate Press Secretary for the Empire State Development Corporation. [Benjamin, Elizabeth. " [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/11/spitzer-hires-current-lobbyist.html Spitzer Hires Current Lobbyist, Former Reporter] ". "Daily News". September 1, 2007.] He was soon promoted to Press Secretary, a position that reports to the Communications Director in the executive chamber. [" [http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2007/11/under_fire_gov_changes_adminis.html Under fire, gov changes administration] ". "Associated Press". November 1, 2007.] The job opened up when Spitzer suspended his communications director Darren Dopp following his involvement in a controversy, and the previous Press Secretary Christine Anderson was elevated to Communications Director.Gershman, Jacob. " [http://www2.nysun.com/article/65678 Spitzer Is Set To Hire Albany, Press Liaisons] ". "New York Sun". November 1, 2007.]

References

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NAME=Cockfield Jr., Errol
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Cockfield, Errol
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Press Secretary to David Paterson
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