Stella Cooper is a journalist, researcher, and video producer. Over four years as a senior analyst for the non-profit research group C4ADS, Stella used open-source research to investigate global criminal networks. Eventually, she built her own team focused on combating the conflict economy in South Sudan.

In 2020, Stella joined the New York Times as a video producer and investigative journalist for the award winning Visual Investigations team. She has reported on major global breaking news including the January 6 Capitol riots, police brutality in Colombia, and insurgency in Mozambique. She has also led long term investigations into North Korean oil smuggling and far-right extremism in the United States.