Jim Thistle

I was extremely saddened this afternoon when I heard about the passing of Jim Thistle. Jim Thistle was a professor of mine during my senior year at Boston University. He taught Broadcast Journalism for Non-Majors. Prof. Thistle was a pioneer in the Boston local news industry and each story, each lesson was given by a true master.

During one class, I was assigned a story about the pigeon problem in Provincetown (say that three times fast). It was an end-of-the-newscast type of story, so I made it light and funny. It was really hokey. While I was trying to read the story during the newscast, Prof. Thistle kept making these coo-ing sounds in my earpiece. It was impossible to keep a straight face.

As graduation neared, I often turned to Prof. Thistle for advice and he readily gave it. His experience in television was immeasurable and I was smart enough at the time to know that each story had a reason, a purpose. Each was like gold.

Soon after my Red Sox internship ended, I was incredibly stressed about what I was going to do for work. I had run into Prof. Thistle shortly before my internship ended, once again asking for advice. He told me to send him my resume and I did. Within a week he called me saying that WLVI-TV (Channel 56) was looking for an Assignment Desk Editor and passed along my resume. I interviewed and got the job. Prof. Thistle saved the day. I only ended up staying there for a couple of months, but because of that opportunity, it opened the door to other jobs I would have never have known about otherwise. To Prof. Thistle, I am eternally grateful.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Thistle family. They can take comfort in knowing Jim Thistle was a man of great integrity and with the purest heart. His satisfaction came from the success of others. He will be greatly missed.


WCVB Tribute
BU Tribute/Donations to the Jim Thistle Scholarship Fund

Quote of the Day:
"The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention." -Duguet