Jeannette Cooperman

After a decade as an investigative reporter for the Riverfront Times, Cooperman became editor-in-chief of St. Louis Magazine, then begged to be demoted to staff writer because she missed the on-the-ground reporting. A dozen years later, she switched to a more reflective mode, writing essays for The Common Reader, based at Washington University in St. Louis. Cooperman has a doctorate in American studies and a background in philosophy and psychology. She has written five books and is a member of the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame.