Cooney, Joan Ganz (1929– )

US television executive. She produced documentaries for public television 1962–67. Best known for creating Public Broadcasting System's Seasame Street (1968) for preschool children, she produced other children's educational programs including The Electric Company, 3,2,1 Contact and Square One TV.

She was born in Phoenix, Arizona. After working as a teacher, she became a newspaper reporter in Arizona, then a National Broadcasting Company publicist 1954–62. She was president of the Children's Television Workshop 1970–88, then chairperson.