June Cross

Cross was born in New York City, the daughter of James Cross, half of the vaudeville team of Stump and Stumpy, and Norma Booth, an actress. She is also the stepdaughter of comedian and actor Larry Storch. Cross grew up in Atlantic City, graduating from Atlantic City High School in 1971. She attended Harvard University-Radcliffe College, graduating with a B.A. in 1975. Cross started her career as a copygirl at The Press of Atlantic City while still in college. Upon graduation, she began her career as an intern at The Boston Globe and at PBS’ flagship station, WGBH, where she worked on the broadcast Say Brother. In 1979, she moved to New York City to work as a reporter at the PBS NewsHour, eventually becoming a Producer and Correspondent there. Her coverage of the 1983 Grenada Invasion won a News & Documentary Emmy Award. In 1986, she accepted a job as a producer at CBS News, going on to work as a producer for Face to Face with Connie Chung, America Tonight, and The CBS Evening News. In 1991, Cross joined PBS’ Frontline, where she produced eight documentaries, including the Emmy Award-winning Secret Daughter, which she co-directed and produced. Secret Daughter told the story of her mother’s rejection and her unusual upbringing with a black family in Atlantic City. Secret Daughter was also turned into a noted memoir. In 2001, Cross joined the faculty of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where in 2010, she founded the documentary specialization.