photo of Shawna Thomas

Shawna Thomas

Washington DC Bureau Chief
VICE News

Shawna Thomas is the Washington DC Bureau Chief for VICE News overseeing politics and DC-based policy coverage for HBO’s Emmy award-winning nightly newscast: VICE News Tonight. Thomas has spearheaded the show's major political coverage including groundbreaking coverage of the Alabama special election, the 2018 midterms, and “She’s Running" — a four-part series shot in real time that followed Democrat Katie Hill’s successful bid for Congress. Thomas was also senior producer on VICE News Tonight’s award-winning "Charlottesville" special episode which earned four Emmys. In her correspondent role with VICE News Tonight, Shawna has covered the most important events in recent memory, including President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un's summit in Singapore and the infamous Trump-Putin meetings in Helsinki. Shawna has also interviewed a number of the biggest newsmakers of the day, including South Carolina Governor Tim Scott in a widely-quoted interview after Charlottesville, Senator Chuck Schumer for his exclusive announcement supporting the decriminalization of marijuana, and Cecile Richards as she was stepping down from Planned Parenthood. Before taking on the challenge of opening VICE News' DC Bureau, Thomas served as the senior producer and senior digital editor of NBC News’s Meet the Press. Her role there was two-fold: directing the show’s digital and social profile and managing the day-to-day assignments for the broadcast itself. She was also a bridge between the digital and television sides of NBC News, helping to coordinate digital's presence at big television events like debates and conventions, all while helping produce television at such events. Prior to joining Meet the Press, she covered the White House, Capitol Hill, helped plan NBC's Decision 2008 coverage and reported on the detainee trials in Guantanamo Bay.



Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring Shawna Thomas
Events featuring Shawna Thomas