Work Charles Thomson (journalist)

1 work

1.1 court reporting
1.2 feature writing
1.3 james brown
1.4 michael jackson

work
court reporting

in 2013, thomson live-tweeted jackson family’s wrongful death lawsuit against concert promoter aeg live, in claimed company should accept responsibility michael jackson’s death. coverage quoted mailonline.

feature writing

thomson first won praise feature-writing shortly after graduating university, when handed ‘special commendation’ in ‘feature writer of year’ category @ guardian student media awards 2009. award created in 2009 acknowledge strength of thomson’s article, ‘james brown: lost album’, pieced final recording sessions of so-called ‘godfather of soul’. 1 competition judge later commented, “i thought best piece of student journalism i’d read in long time, if not ever.” panel of judges added, “the feature extraordinary, sustained piece on james brown, poignant portrait of man in last days.”

shortly after winning award, thomson – aged 21 – became 1 of youngest journalists ever given own blog @ huffington post, penned features subjects including michael jackson, hunter s thompson , execution of troy davis.

thomson’s second huffington post article, ‘one of shameful episodes in journalistic history’, published on fifth anniversary of verdicts in michael jackson’s 2005 child molestation trial (see: trial of michael jackson). article compared trial transcripts media reporting, arguing journalists had deliberately skewed reporting in favour of prosecution. praised jackson’s defence lawyer thomas mesereau, continues refer journalists article when contact him trial queries. has been referenced in 2 jackson biographies: joe vogel s ‘man in music’ , randall sullivan’s ‘untouchable’.

in addition investigative features, thomson specialises in in-depth interviews. subjects have ranged jermaine jackson jailed peer lord hanningfield. other interviewees have included motown star martha reeves, gay rapper cazwell, death row lawyer clive stafford-smith , funk legend bootsy collins. thomson’s series of interviews lord hanningfield formed part of portfolio of work won him ‘highly commended’ award in ‘newcomer of year’ category @ edf energy regional media awards 2012. (see: charles thomson awards)

thomson has used first person, ‘gonzo journalism’ approach recount unusual interviews, such when attempted interview former tv presenter michael barrymore went awry. thomson told barrymore had agreed interviewed star refused cooperate upon thomson’s arrival. instead invited thomson sit in on radio recording observer, turned tables , started grilling him on-air. thomson recounted encounter in first-person article formed part of portfolio won him ‘highly commended’ award in ‘newcomer of year’ category @ edf energy regional media awards 2012. used gonzo approach describe ‘unconventional’ interview artist ralph steadman, , recount ‘crazy’ backstage antics @ britain’s v festival.

james brown

in 2008, thomson interview brown s former co-writer fred wesley wax poetics magazine. during interview wesley spoke working on brown s final album in 2005. interview inspired thomson research album, spending several months interviewing more dozen people directly involved in album s production. resulting article, james brown: lost album , printed in thomson’s self-published jive magazine, winning him special commendation award in feature writing category @ guardian student media awards in november 2009.

in october 2010, tomi rae brown, widow of james brown, awarded thomson in-depth interview had ever given reporter. in article published sawf news, brown spoke husband s 2004 arrest domestic assault , how nursed him through cancer in 2005. claimed brown s legs had been sawn off after death obtain dna prove son s paternity. thomson has written brown mojo magazine , spoken singer on los angeles radio station kpfa-fm.

in february 2013 thomson published in-depth feature, titled ‘the big payback’, brown’s humanitarian work , family’s efforts carry on after death. brown’s friend , producer, gospel singer derrick monk, said piece brought years eyes.

in article published on huffington post, thomson critical of james brown biopic ‘get on (film)’, said contained significant inaccuracies detrimental brown’s legacy. interviewed selection of brown’s former musicians huffington post, ahead of hbo documentary ‘mr dynamite’, alex gibney.

michael jackson

throughout 2009 contributed regularly britain s sun newspaper michael jackson expert. work sun began in march 2009 when received insider information on jackson s imminent arrival in uk announce concerts , helped sun obtain exclusive pictures of jackson disembarking private jet, thomson said contacted british tabloid supply information 1993 sexual abuse allegations against jackson, have them replace researched information common myths advised them avoid, , same misinformation in every article read 2009 suicide of evan chandler, father of jackson s accuser. noted when jackson s fbi file released following month, contents portrayed media giving impression of guilt though file supported innocence. noted how gene simmons allegations in 2010 jackson molesting children received on hundred times more coverage interview jackson s long-time guitarist, jennifer batten, rebutted simmons claims.

for celebrity news website sawf news, thomson has interviewed several of jackson s former collaborators including tour guitarist jennifer batten, dancer kriyss grant, former manager dieter wiesner , publicist stuart backerman.

on fifth anniversary of jackson s acquittal on child abuse charges, thomson posted essay on huffington post blog media s inaccurate reporting on star s trial. entitled 1 of shameful episodes in journalistic history , piece drew on trial transcripts , compared testimony in case inaccurate newspaper, magazine , tv reports proceedings. piece later incorporated anti-bullying curriculum on words , violence voices education project. article praised jackson’s defence attorney thomas mesereau , has been cited in 2 jackson biographies – joe vogel’s ‘man in music’ , randall sullivan’s ‘untouchable’.

in 2011 thomson interviewed michael jackson’s brother jermaine jackson. during interview jermaine said of thomson, “he knows more do!” 2 years later, ahead of jacksons’ first performance in london 40 years, jermaine granted thomson solo promotional interview.

thomson has been critical of michael jackson estate, writing in 2 articles on huffington post releasing posthumous albums direct contradiction of jackson’s beliefs , wishes, stated in several interviews , writings during lifetime.