CEO of Legal News and Inland Press receives coveted Innovation Award
Brad Thompson, president and CEO of Detroit Legal News Publishing, recently was honored by the Graphic Media Alliance as its inaugural recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Innovation Award.
The award was presented during the Michigan Print Week celebration held on March 26 in Novi at an event attended by more than 180 industry professionals, students, and partners from across the region.
Created to honor individuals who embody the spirit of innovation while advancing the industry through advocacy, sustainability, and leadership, the Benjamin Franklin Innovation Award reflects the enduring legacy of its namesake — one of America’s earliest printers and champions of free expression.
“Brad Thompson exemplifies everything this award was designed to recognize,” said Andrew Schall, president of Graphic Media Alliance. “His leadership, his commitment to innovation, and his tireless advocacy efforts at both the state and national levels have made a lasting impact on our industry. When nominations were submitted, his
name consistently rose to the top — he truly set the standard.”
A fifth-generation leader of Detroit Legal News Publishing, Thompson has spent more than four decades guiding one of Michigan’s most historically significant printing and publishing organizations. Under his leadership, the Detroit Legal News network of 11 newspapers and its Inland Press subsidiary have continued to evolve through investments in modern print technologies, data-driven workflows, and sustainable practices, all while maintaining a deep respect for the company’s heritage.
In addition to his business leadership, Thompson is widely recognized for his advocacy on behalf of the industry. He regularly engages with legislators in Lansing and Washington, D.C., working to protect public notice, support postal policy, and uphold the principles of the First Amendment. His efforts have helped ensure that print remains a trusted and essential component of informed communities.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition from Graphic Media Alliance,” said Thompson, a native of Ann Arbor. “This industry has given so much to me and my family over generations. I believe strongly in the importance of protecting and advancing what we do — not just for today, but for the future.”
A past-president of the Michigan Press Association, Thompson currently serves as president of the Michigan Press Association Foundation, which supports quality community journalism in the state.
Thompson is a product of Eastern Michigan University, where he majored in business management and computer science., He completed graduate studies at the University of Michigan in its Executive Development Program at the U-M Business School.
Thompson began his career with The Detroit Legal News in 1984 after spending five years with Burroughs Corp. as a systems analyst. In 1991, after working in a variety of roles with newspaper company, Thompson was named publisher. Four years later, he was named president and CEO of the company, becoming its chairman in 2004.
The Benjamin Franklin Innovation Award will be presented annually as part of Graphic Media Alliance’s regional celebrations, recognizing individuals who demonstrate a commitment to shaping the future of the industry through innovation, leadership, and advocacy.
The award was presented during the Michigan Print Week celebration held on March 26 in Novi at an event attended by more than 180 industry professionals, students, and partners from across the region.
Created to honor individuals who embody the spirit of innovation while advancing the industry through advocacy, sustainability, and leadership, the Benjamin Franklin Innovation Award reflects the enduring legacy of its namesake — one of America’s earliest printers and champions of free expression.
“Brad Thompson exemplifies everything this award was designed to recognize,” said Andrew Schall, president of Graphic Media Alliance. “His leadership, his commitment to innovation, and his tireless advocacy efforts at both the state and national levels have made a lasting impact on our industry. When nominations were submitted, his
name consistently rose to the top — he truly set the standard.”
A fifth-generation leader of Detroit Legal News Publishing, Thompson has spent more than four decades guiding one of Michigan’s most historically significant printing and publishing organizations. Under his leadership, the Detroit Legal News network of 11 newspapers and its Inland Press subsidiary have continued to evolve through investments in modern print technologies, data-driven workflows, and sustainable practices, all while maintaining a deep respect for the company’s heritage.
In addition to his business leadership, Thompson is widely recognized for his advocacy on behalf of the industry. He regularly engages with legislators in Lansing and Washington, D.C., working to protect public notice, support postal policy, and uphold the principles of the First Amendment. His efforts have helped ensure that print remains a trusted and essential component of informed communities.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition from Graphic Media Alliance,” said Thompson, a native of Ann Arbor. “This industry has given so much to me and my family over generations. I believe strongly in the importance of protecting and advancing what we do — not just for today, but for the future.”
A past-president of the Michigan Press Association, Thompson currently serves as president of the Michigan Press Association Foundation, which supports quality community journalism in the state.
Thompson is a product of Eastern Michigan University, where he majored in business management and computer science., He completed graduate studies at the University of Michigan in its Executive Development Program at the U-M Business School.
Thompson began his career with The Detroit Legal News in 1984 after spending five years with Burroughs Corp. as a systems analyst. In 1991, after working in a variety of roles with newspaper company, Thompson was named publisher. Four years later, he was named president and CEO of the company, becoming its chairman in 2004.
The Benjamin Franklin Innovation Award will be presented annually as part of Graphic Media Alliance’s regional celebrations, recognizing individuals who demonstrate a commitment to shaping the future of the industry through innovation, leadership, and advocacy.
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