July 29 — When Jim Thistle’s broadcast journalism students found out their professor had been diagnosed with cancer, the legendary newsroom director and Boston University professor gave them a straight answer about the semester and his illness.
“He said to us, ‘There’s nothing that can stop me from finishing this class with you guys. And yes, you still all have to do your projects,’” said Jonah Goldberg, a student in Thistle’s Enterprise Reporting class when his illness was reported in spring 2007.
After battling throat cancer, Thistle died Tuesday, at the age of 66. A respected figure in broadcast journalism for more than 40 years, Thistle served as news director for each of the major network affiliates in Boston – WBZ (Ch. 4), WCVB (Ch. 5) and WHDH (Ch. 7). A BU alumnus, Thistle served as department chairman twice and as director of broadcasting journalism until his death.
Though Thistle missed the last few weeks of class to undergo treatment in 2007, Goldberg said students put together a blooper newscast for their professor who often included sing-alongs in his lesson plans.
“Thistle always said to carry yourself in a professional manner, and I always make sure to do that. . . He always said to do things the right way,” Goldberg, a 2007 College of Communication graduate, said.
“Almost any place I went, whether it was Channel 5 or GBH or whatever, I almost always would run into someone who would ask me to say hello to Jim Thistle,” said Bob Zelnick, a journalism professor and former ABC News correspondent. “The person would always say, ‘I like to think of myself as a prot’eacute;g’eacute; of Jim Thistle.’ The guy had more prot’eacute;g’eacute;s than anybody can think of.”
Journalism department Chairman Lou Ureneck called Thistle one of the “the best one-man employment agencies in the field,” and said “he set an example of ethical behavior and belief in the traditional principles of journalism” in an email to colleagues.
Paul Merrill, a 2003 COM graduate, credited Thistle with his first professional successes.
“I’m convinced he’s one of the reasons I got my first job out of college,” he said. “He opened countless doors for BU students. He was a rare find in professors.”
Jackie Bruno, a 2006 COM graduate, said Thistle struck a chord with students when he led sing-alongs in a Television Newsroom course.
“He valued humor, but he also valued hard work and dedication,” Bruno said. “For a professor to be silly and sing with his students, but at the same time have the ability to command respect, that’s very unique.”
Thistle established Thistle Communications two years ago with his eldest son Jim Thistle Jr., partner David Reynolds said. He said Thistle was “very upfront” about his cancer.
“I think it disturbed him the most to have to leave BU,” Reynolds said. “He loved lecturing about the different events he did with the different stations that he worked with, all the presidential visits, meeting Jimmy Carter.”
Thistle worked as executive producer for the TV appearances of political heavyweights, including Boston mayors, Massachusetts governors and the 39th president when he visited New England.
Thistle announced his retirement in early June and was set to leave BU in August.
“We were already preparing to search for somebody to fill the position,” COM Dean Tom Fiedler said. “However, we weren’t seeking to replace him because he was the type of person who’s not replaceable.”
Last fall, Thistle set up the Natalie Salatich Jacobson broadcast journalism and Jim Thistle news management internships for BU students.
A longtime Everett resident, Thistle is survived by his wife Jeanne, son Jim Jr., daughters Elizabeth and Deborah and grandchildren.
