Julia Thompson

Julia Thompson is a Professor of Practice and Managing Editor, Digital at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She oversees student journalists in digital production, social media, and explanatory reporting. Previously, she held senior editorial roles at USA TODAY, The Arizona Republic, and other news outlets. Thompson contributed to a Pulitzer Prize-winning team at The Arizona Republic for investigative reporting on political and social impacts of Trump’s border wall policies. She also served as Mesa’s first Chief Digital Officer.

Education: Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri.

Teaching Focus: Directs Cronkite News bureaus in Phoenix, Washington, and Los Angeles, specializing in sports journalism and mass communication capstone projects. Courses taught include JMC 478-481 (Cronkite News Bureaus) and MCO 570 (Master’s Capstone).

Awards: Pulitzer Prize (2020, Explanatory Reporting).

Advising & Leadership: Oversees student-led news operations across multiple cities, integrating digital media strategies with traditional journalism practices.