Derrik Thomas spent more than 40 years as a versatile general assignment reporter for WRTV in Indianapolis. He was the station’s third African American on-air reporter. Widely praised for his incisive and lively writing style, Thomas produced thousands of stories on all subjects and events. He was particularly notable for his coverage of the courts and criminal trials, and feature stories emanating from the Indianapolis inner-city community.
His stories also generated first place awards from Associated Press, United Press International, Sigma Delta Chi, and Society of Professional Journalists, and lifetime achievement recognition from journalist organizations like the Indiana Association of Black Journalists, for a career that spanned 43 years. His career began with stints at WMT-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA and KSMP-TV in Minneapolis. The Chicago-born and raised Thomas earned a degree in English from MacMurray College and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of lowa.