Vice President - Local Programming & Marketing

Jim Thomas is the vice president – local programming and marketing for Journal Broadcast Group, Inc. In this role, he is the leader of new local television program initiatives and establishes marketing strategy for new and existing programming and newscasts. In addition, he reviews and works with local market teams to devise the most successful mix of syndicated, local and news programming across 15 TV stations.

Forward-thinking brands today are required to listen and respond to users to be successful. Today's digital media company needs to focus on the "Six C's of Success": Content, Context, Customers, Creativity, Community and Commerce.  The facts remain you must have a clearly focused product and market it effectively. It's the tools that have changed.  Through traditional channels, web, mobile and social media you have the opportunity to build your brand at every touch point. You must make those points valuable and important to people who are curious and willing to participate in your brand. Build on that experience and you will build your brand.

Thomas joined the Journal Broadcast Group in March of 1993 as manager of advertising and promotion for WTMJ-TV. He was named manager of marketing and programming for TODAY’S TMJ4 in September of 1994. In May of 1996 he was promoted to vice president – marketing for the Broadcast Group. In December of 2003 he was promoted to vice president – marketing and programming for the Broadcast Group.

Before joining the Journal Broadcast Group, Thomas was the advertising and promotion manager at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he also supervised the marketing and promotion of WOTV in Battle Creek, Mich. Earlier in his career, he worked in the marketing and promotion departments at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pa., WISN-TV in Milwaukee, WPSU-TV (formerly WPSX) in University Park, Pa., and WRIC-TV (formerly WXEX) in Richmond, Va.

Thomas is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University.