kˈɑːkɹən wˈɜːkt æz ɐ ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾɚ fɚðə ɹˈɑːk ˈaɪlənd ˈɑːɹɡəs bᵻfˌoːɹ ɐn ɔːdˈɪʃən ɹɪzˈʌltᵻd ɪn ɐ dʒˈɑːb bɹˈɔːdkæstɪŋ nˈuːz fɔːɹ ɹˈeɪdɪˌoʊ stˈeɪʃən dˌʌbəljˌuːˌeɪtʃbˌiːˈɛf, wˌɪtʃ wʌz ˈoʊnd baɪ ðə nˈuːzpeɪpɚz mˈænɪdʒmənt.
Cochran worked as a reporter for the Rock Island Argus before an audition resulted in a job broadcasting news for radio station WHBF, which was owned by the newspaper's management.