Thomas Interview

Houston Buckley
JOUR 271
September 14, 2012
Thomas Interview
473 words


             Oxford, Miss. - Former Ole Miss journalism student John B. Thomas spoke with students about finding their professions in life after college. Thomas, who graduated in 1985, spoke with a smile to a class of eager young journalists about his career. Thomas was a co-founder of the Oxford Times Newspaper, which was created barely two days after his graduation.
             When asked about founding the Oxford Times Newspaper Thomas said, "We were young and ambitious, we thought we could take on the world. The experience was unlike any other." Thomas was not only an editor for his paper, but he was also a publisher and a salesman.
             Thomas developed his love for journalism through his family. Thomas' father was an editor for the Meridian Star, and after visiting Rowan Oak in Oxford with journalism students, Thomas was hooked. "I just knew that was what I wanted to do." said Thomas, "I just wish I would have done more writing if I knew then what I know now."
             Thomas is now the vice president for investor relations at Abbott, which is a diverse healthcare company. Thomas has been with Abbott for 17 years. Abbott wasn't the first job after college for Thomas; he also was an editor for magazines such as Better Home and Garden and Mallinckrodt. Thomas was writing every week, as well as working toward his MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School.
             With over 25 years experience in journalism, Thomas knows the ins and outs of what it takes to be a good writer. In his career he has joined the Arthur Page Society for public relations as well as NIRI, the National Investors Relations Institute. Thomas smiled as he told the students that all of his success came from a 20-minute interview over the phone.
             Thomas created the University of Mississippi Integrated Marketing Scholarship for outstanding journalism students because he was "satisfied in the direction of the new media program." The scholarship includes a donation from Thomas of $100,000 to the Meek School of Journalism.
             Thomas made it clear to the students that good writing still matters, he told them to trust their gut and to network their sources. With the introduction of new media such as Facebook and Twitter, it is still important to practice good writing he said. Thomas made it a point to tell his audience that they should always be asking questions, because sometimes it's the questions you don't ask that get you in trouble.
             Even though he hasn't been back to Oxford since the days of Eli Manning, when asked about the upcoming football game against the Texas Longhorns Thomas laughed and with a confident smile said, "I'll take the Rebels."