Share April 29, 2021, 8:02 AM Those who will miss longtime WWJ radio reporter Vickie Thomas won t have long to wait to hear her voice again. Thomas announced today she s joining Mayor Mike Duggan s administration early next month as the city s communications director.
Vickie Thomas
(File photo) Today is her final day on the air, and she announced the move this morning in on-air conversation with colleagues. I m looking forward to the challenge and making a difference for residents, she tweets. Thomas distinguished herself through her 30-year career with the station, covering Detroit through several mayoral administrations. She is widely respected by colleagues, and her retirement from WWJ at age 58 left many wondering if she had another job in mind.
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Retiring WWJ-AM (950) AM reporter Vickie Thomas said she s going to work for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
After spending more than 30 years at the news radio station, the longtime, award-winning reporter announced her retirement on April 16. She said her last day at the station is Thursday. I am happy to announce that I will be joining Mayor Mike Duggan s administration as an executive assistant to the mayor and as the new director of communications for the city, Thomas said on the air. It s really a role that I m excited about.
She is scheduled to start the new job next month.
When Vickie Thomas announced last week that she was retiring from WWJ-AM (950) after 30 years, accolades began arriving from listeners, major players in politics and her competitors at Detroit s media outlets.
The Wayne County Commission declared April 22 as Vickie Thomas Day. The commission’s chair, Alisha Bell, describe the city beat reporter as “a broadcasting legend whose work has touched so many lives through her work and commitment to the community.”
Thursday is her final day at the all-news station (although she will continue to do her weekly Black Business Minute segment for WWJ). She ll be on the air starting around 7:30 a.m., and she plans to share details then on what comes next for her.