OPB Central Oregon Bureau Chief Emily Cureton Cook is based in Bend, Oregon. She reports multimedia stories from the region and edits coverage by other members of OPB’s news team East of the Cascades. Emily seeks to hold leaders accountable, promote transparency in public affairs and amplify voices of rural Oregon. She often shines a light on how state and local governments impact people’s daily lives, from why it matters who serves as the local sheriff, to the generational consequences of mismanaging groundwater.

Her work with OPB has been distinguished by numerous awards, including wins for best investigative and environmental reporting, breaking news, feature storytelling, and other honors from the Northwest Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists. She was nominated for a 2024 regional Emmy award and is a two-time winner of regional Edward R. Murrow awards for Best Use of Sound. Emily formerly contributed award-winning programming and reporting to Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta, Georgia, Jefferson Public Radio in Ashland, Oregon, the Del Norte Triplicate in Crescent City, California, and the Big Bend Sentinel in Marfa, Texas. Send her feedback and story ideas at ecureton@opb.org.