Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Derrik Thomas’s career began with stints at WMT-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 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. Thomas spent more than 40 years as a versatile general assignment reporter for WRTV-TV 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.

Thomas was inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2021.

-Indiana Broadcast Pioneers