Geoffrey Cox (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Sir Geoffrey Sandford Cox, CNZM
, CBE
(7 April 1910 – 2 April 2008) was a New Zealand
-born newspaper and television journalist. He was a former editor and chief executive of ITN and a founder of News at Ten.
Cox was born in Palmerston North
, New Zealand
, the son of a bank manager, and educated at Southland Boys' High School
, followed by the University of Otago
and then a Rhodes scholarship
to Oriel College, Oxford, during 1932-35.
His career in journalism began in 1935 when he joined the News Chronicle
. He covered the Spanish Civil War
from Madrid, then went to Vienna and Paris for the Daily Express
in which he broke the news in 1939 that British troops had arrived in France. He then covered the Winter War
from Finland; while critical of the Soviet attack on Finland he foresaw that the Red Army would defeat the Germans.
He enlisted in the New Zealand Army
, serving in Crete and North Africa, then was First Secretary at the new New Zealand Embassy in Washington before serving in Italy.
In 1956 he joined ITN, the new commercial TV channel in Britain as News Editor of Independent Television News
, and started News at Ten in 1967.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(7 April 1910 – 2 April 2008) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born newspaper and television journalist. He was a former editor and chief executive of ITN and a founder of News at Ten.
Cox was born in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the son of a bank manager, and educated at Southland Boys' High School
Southland Boys' High School
Southland Boys' High School is an all-boys school in Invercargill, New Zealand, and has been the only one in the city since Marist Brothers was merged with St Catherines to form Verdon College in 1982.-History:...
, followed by the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
and then a Rhodes scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to Oriel College, Oxford, during 1932-35.
His career in journalism began in 1935 when he joined the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
. He covered the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
from Madrid, then went to Vienna and Paris for the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
in which he broke the news in 1939 that British troops had arrived in France. He then covered the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
from Finland; while critical of the Soviet attack on Finland he foresaw that the Red Army would defeat the Germans.
He enlisted in the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, serving in Crete and North Africa, then was First Secretary at the new New Zealand Embassy in Washington before serving in Italy.
In 1956 he joined ITN, the new commercial TV channel in Britain as News Editor of Independent Television News
Independent Television News
ITN is a news and content provider with headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is made up of four key businesses: ITN News, ITN Source, ITN Productions and ITN Consulting. The ITN logotype can be displayed in any of 4 different colours, each of which represents a business unit. This is the...
, and started News at Ten in 1967.