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Bankole Thompson, right, resigns amid festering strains with publisher Hiram Jackson, left.
Bankole Thompson, high-profile senior editor at the Michigan Chronicle since 2006, says in a resignation letter that he got this blunt message from his boss Wednesday night:
"You had told me in no uncertain terms that your new vision for the Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media has no place for me, and you concluded that it was high time we went our separate ways."
Thompson agrees with that conclusion, he adds in a lengthy statement giving two weeks' notice, which is posted by Steve Neavling at Motor City Muckraker,
The 36-year-old journalist and author, whose first name is pronounced bank-oh-LEE, is an influential community voice who hosts a weekly WDET interview program, "Redline with Bankole Thompson." He also regularly moderates public forums, participates in panel discussions and is the author of two books -- “Obama and Black Loyalty” and “Obama and Christian Loyalty.”
The journalist, whose accent reflects his roots in Gambia, tells Bill Shea of Crain's Detroit Business that he'll consider ways to "remain engaged in the city, perhaps in a more forceful way.”
Tributes from admirers began flowing onto social media Thursday. (Examples are below.)
The Chronicle reports his departure in a three-paragraph post that quotes publisher Hiram E. Jackson as saying: "“Bankole has been a tremendous asset to the Michigan Chronicle and we wish him the best."
Bankole Thompson: "I am proud of the work I have done as editor."
That sentence follows this odd one in the first paragraph:
With the departure of Thompson, the near 80-year old newspaper will continue to amplify its multi-media strategy along with expanding its editorial voice.
As the tone of that sendoff seems to suggest, relations between the veteran editor and the publisher were strained. Thompson's resignation comments leave no doubt:
I endured great pains to maintain journalistic integrity, serving as editor of a paper whose parent company borrowed money from the city’s Pension Fund.
It was indeed difficult for me to do my job as editor when the publisher was in the headlines regarding questionable business deals.
At Muckraker, Neavling writes:
Jackson became a polarizing figure soon after replacing legendary publisher Sameul Logan Jr., who died in 2011. While Logan was a pioneer in black journalism, Jackson was an unapologetic businessman who got caught up in shady deals and lost the support of many readers.
In its coverage of the editor's exit, The Detroit News fills in background of what made it "difficult for me to do my job," as Thompson writes:
Real Times Media [the Chronicle's parent] is 49-percent owned by Detroit’s city pension fund, an equity stake awarded in forgiveness of $15.5 million in loans provided to the media firm in 2007-08 to consolidate debt and fund its growth strategy.
The loans, approved under a prior General Retirement System board, allegedly lost the pension fund $13.3 million and were referenced in a federal bribery and kickback case involving former Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick's fraternity brother and ex-Detroit Treasurer Jeffrey Beasley and three others. . . .
Real Times repaid about $3 million on the loans before the company and pension board agreed to convert the outstanding balance to equity. The revised deal gave the fund an ownership stake in Real Times.
In the federal bribery indictment, prosecutors claimed Real Times was among several companies that allegedly gave funds to Kilpatrick's nonprofit, the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, in exchange for favorable treatment from Beasley and city pension funds.
Jackson, a 1987 graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., has been CEO of Real Times Media since 2007.
His approach to journalism differs markedly from his predecessor's, according to Thompson's letter:
I still remember the day Sam Logan recruited me to be the editor of the paper, and gave me the charge to make it a reference point in this region, promising to give me all the support and free hand I needed. . . .
At Mr. Logan’s funeral, I noted that his lasting tribute was that he never told me what to write or how to write. He respected my decision as editor and never once asked me what I was writing about. I vividly recall him rebuking a former governor’s aide, saying “if my editor says your press release is going in the trash, it is going in the trash can.” I give him credit for standing up for journalistic credibility and integrity.
The outgoing editor, whose wife Dana Thompson is a University of Michigan Law School professor. doesn't mince words in telling his second boss what changed after 2011:
Since you assumed the role of publisher, I have pushed back against editorial interference on many occasions, especially when your chief operating officer pushed to have less newsworthy or stale stories on the front page.
I found it surprising that those with no journalistic pedigree would want to decide what is on the front page of a newspaper. I thought journalism was for journalists.
As news of the resignation spreads Thursday, admirers praise Thompson on social media:
► "BankoleThompson will do quite well." -- Randye Bullock, Detroit writer and editor
► "I have mad respect for Bankole Thompson as a journalist." -- Arthur Bridgeforth Jr.
► "He is a force too strong to disappear. Hoping to see him re-emerge in an even better role where he's respected." -- Amy Lebowsky, Ferndale
► "I've always found Bankole Thompson to be a fair and balanced journalist. Best wishes in your future endeavors." -- Mark Roland, Detroit
► "Someone will grab him. He is a good newsman. WDET would be wise to grab him. He is a good voice to listen to. Let’s hope the community does not lose him.." -- Stephen Banicki, Royal Oak
► "I'm not surprised. The Michigan Chronicle has a conservative and corporate mainstream tone. Mr. Thompson appears to be more progressive." -- Azhar McNeal, Detroit
► "Of course his letter of resignation is sharp, eloquent, informed and inspiring. All we can do now is hope the Detroit region doesn't lose his valuable -- and lovely -- voice!." -- Liz Scutchfield, Clinton Township, blogger and social media content writer
► "I have much respect for Mr. Thompson. His reputation will certainly afford him new and greater opportunities. I hope he will continue contributing to the Detroit community." -- Leslie Bennett, Detroit, insurance agent
► "Best wishes, Bankole. You are a very intelligent man and will continue somewhere that appreciates your work." -- Nancy Lee, Novi, retired district court recorder
► "I admire his integrity. He has his show on WDET, I wonder what else is next." -- Julie Johnston, Dearborn
► "Having known Sam Logan personally throughout my life, I understand how Mr. Thompson feels! Logan was a man of depth, integrity and did this city proud with the establishment and continuing to publish a newspaper for us and by us. . . . If Bankole Thompson's pointed and clear reflections on stories is no longer a part of it, then I definitely don't see myself ever reading the paper!. . . . I'll be watching to see what he does next." -- John Trimble, Detroit
► "Mr. Thompson remains a class act." -- Miranda Webster
► "Hope to hear more of him on WDET. Detroit is lucky to have him!" -- Meggan Carney-Ross
► "He will survive!" -- Kimmi Cee, student
