Thom Marsh

In his professional newspaper position, Thom designs and illustrates visuals to help tell news stories.

"Describing how the judicial process works in a small town can really bog down the readability of a news story - So can any statistical analysis or description of where the parade is happening," he explains. "I design information such as those into visually interesting graphics. These graphics provide strong visual elements to a page design, but also frees the story teller to tell the story unhindered."

Thom also creates numerous illustrations for the newspaper and special section designs for both print and the website.

Thom has worked for The Herald-Dispatch since 1990.

Honors

Several of Thom's colorful graphics are used by public sources as part of their training/public use:
Federal drug enforcement agencies requested the map/diagram that detailed the influx of Cocaine from Columbia to the Tri-State area.

The City of Huntington West Virginia uses aerial diagrams and maps that Thom created for their own reference such as the Huntington's Harris Riverfront Park and downtown business developments.

Thom's celebrity caricatures have been praised by their subjects — such as Lou Rawls, Bruce Hornsby, John Berry and Kid Rock, among others.

A perennial award winner in the West Virginia Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest, since 1996, Thom has received fifteen personal awards for contributions in illustration and graphics.

In 2001, Thom received the James K. Batten Award for his graphic contributions on the “West Virginia: After Coal” series that look a no-nonsense look at the coal industry in W.Va.

He has also received several Gannett corporate awards for illustration and graphics as well as statewide awards from the West Virginia Press Association.