Joan Ganz Cooney

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Joan_Ganz_Cooney_portrait_by_©Lynn_Gilbert_1977

Joan Ganz Cooney (born November 30, 1929) is an American television producer and media executive. She is best known as the co-founder of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), now known as Sesame Workshop, which is the organization responsible for the creation of the educational children's television program Sesame Street.

Early Life and Education

Joan Ganz Cooney was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended North High School and later graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in education. After college, she moved to New York City where she worked as a publicist for the United States Steel Corporation and later as a journalist.

Career

Early Career

Cooney began her career in television as a documentary producer for WNET, a public television station in New York. She produced several award-winning documentaries, including "A Chance at a Lifetime" and "Poverty, Anti-Poverty, and the Poor."

Children's Television Workshop

In 1966, Cooney conducted a study on the potential of television to educate young children. The results of this study led to the creation of the Children's Television Workshop in 1968, with Cooney as its first executive director. The following year, Sesame Street premiered on public television and quickly became a groundbreaking success, combining education and entertainment to teach children basic academic and social skills.

Later Career

Cooney continued to work with the Children's Television Workshop, overseeing the development of other educational programs such as The Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact. She also served on the boards of several major corporations and non-profit organizations, including The Paley Center for Media and The Mayo Clinic.

Awards and Honors

Joan Ganz Cooney has received numerous awards for her contributions to children's television and education, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Humanities Medal, and multiple Emmy Awards.

Personal Life

Cooney married Peter G. Peterson, a businessman and former United States Secretary of Commerce, in 1980. They remained married until his death in 2018.

Legacy

Joan Ganz Cooney's work has had a lasting impact on children's media and education. Sesame Street continues to be a beloved and influential program, reaching millions of children worldwide. Her innovative approach to educational television has inspired countless other programs and initiatives aimed at improving early childhood education.

Related Pages

• Sesame Street
• Children's Television Workshop
• The Electric Company
• 3-2-1 Contact
• The Paley Center for Media
• The Mayo Clinic