The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has selected Pierre Thomas, Senior Justice Correspondent for ABC News, as its 2012 Journalist of the Year. The award recognizes signature reporting from the previous year.
“Pierre Thomas’ entire career has been a testament to his abilities as an incisive reporter whose storytelling is noteworthy,” said NABJ President Gregory Lee Jr. “We honor him now because during the past year his abilities have allowed him to be frontline, reporting on the stories that captivated us all.”
Thomas and his team lead ABC’s coverage of many of last year’s tops stories. Last January, when Congressman Gabrielle Giffords and several others were shot in Tucson, Thomas was among the first people giving details about what happened – emphasizing the seriousness of the incident, noting that some people died at the scene and that Giffords had been shot at point-blank range. He reported the facts and helped keep ABC News from reporting that the congresswoman was dead, which some outlets did in error.
Thomas was the very first person in the news division to tell his colleagues that the reason the President of the United States was holding a hastily arranged press conference on a Sunday night was that mass murdering terrorist Osama Bin Laden had been captured and killed. Throughout the week, Thomas broke news, including two exclusives with fascinating specifics on what they found in Osama Bin Laden’s compound.
“Pierre is one of the finest journalists in the country. He is not only respected and well-liked by his peers and colleagues, but also by the people he covers. He has a clear vision about his job as a journalist, and every day he comes to work prepared to be the best in the business,” said Robin Sproul, ABC News’ Washington Bureau Chief. “We are thrilled to see Pierre and his work recognized by the NABJ.”
Thomas joined the network in November 2000 and reports for “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline” and other ABC News programs. Earlier he served as CNN Justice Department correspondent and held several reporting positions with the Washington Post.
