Alexander James Cooper

Alexander James Cooper, 46, passed away on March 19, 2024, following unexpected complications from routine surgery. Alex was an award-winning investigative journalist for The Guardian whose fearless reporting exposed corporate corruption and championed workers' rights. Born in Liverpool, he moved to Manchester for university and remained there, considering it 'the heart of real Britain.' Over his 20-year career, Alex's investigations led to parliamentary inquiries, corporate reforms, and justice for vulnerable workers. His series on gig economy exploitation won the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2020. Colleagues admired his dogged persistence and ethical rigor he never published a story without triple-checking facts and considering human impact. Alex is survived by his wife Sarah, their teenage son Daniel, and his parents. He was working on a book about press freedom at the time of his death, which colleagues are completing in his honor. As he often told young journalists: 'Our job isn't to be first with the story, but to be right for the people affected by it.' His commitment to truth and justice remains an inspiration.