Pierre Thomas of ABC News elected to Reporters Committee leadership
Pierre Thomas, ABC News Senior Justice Correspondent, has been elected as secretary-treasurer of the Executive Committee of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Thomas succeeds Saundra Torry, editorial writer at USA Today, who became vice chairman upon the resignation of Jim Rubin, who recently retired from journalism. They join Chairman Tony Mauro, Supreme Court correspondent for The National Law Journal, in making up the Steering Committee’s Executive Committee.
“As a reporter, Pierre has first-hand experience with the access and First Amendment issues that the Reporters Committee helps journalists navigate every day,” said Mauro. “He has been a dedicated member of the Steering Committee for many years and gives his all to the tasks he takes on. We look forward to Pierre’s contributions to the Executive Committee and his leadership as he moves up the Steering Committee governance ladder.”
Thomas joined the Reporters Committee Steering Committee in 2008. He covers law enforcement and homeland security issues for ABC News, where he reports for “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline” and other ABC News programs.
“I am looking forward to joining the Executive Committee and working to protect the interests of journalists,” Thomas said. “Giving journalists the opportunity to freely and aggressively pursue stories of importance is an ongoing, urgent cause.”
Thomas received an Emmy Award as part of team coverage of the inauguration of President Barack Obama and in 2011 the Houston Association of Black Journalists honored Thomas with its Pinnacle Award. He was recently featured in the American Journalism Review and in 2011 was the focus of an hour long C-SPAN broadcast about his career and thoughts on journalism. In 2012 Thomas was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists.
A key member of ABC News’ award-winning team of correspondents covering the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and their aftermath, Thomas has done exclusive reports on the Virginia Tech massacre, groundbreaking reports on drop-outs, illiteracy in America, crime and gangs. He continues to report on terrorism and homeland security. Thomas won an Emmy award in September 2010 for his role in the network’s team coverage of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.
A former Washington Post reporter, Thomas has covered such stories as the Oklahoma City bombing and the FBI’s role at Ruby Ridge. As Justice Department correspondent for CNN, he broke news on many fronts, including terrorism, cyber-crime, the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the FBI’s Most Wanted list and the Justice Department’s involvement in the Elian Gonzalez case. He started his career at The Roanoke Times and World-News.
Thomas is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Read Thomas’ full bio online at https://www.rcfp.org/node/123511.
About the Reporters Committee:
Founded in 1970, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press offers free legal support to thousands of working journalists and media lawyers each year. It is a leader in the fight against persistent efforts by government officials to impede the release of public information, whether by withholding documents or threatening reporters with jail. In addition to its 24/7 Legal Defense Hotline, the Reporters Committee conducts cutting-edge legal research, publishes handbooks and guides on media law issues, files frequent friend-of-the-court legal briefs and offers challenging fellowships and internships for young lawyers and journalists. For more information, go to www.rcfp.org, or follow us on Twitter @rcfp.
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