Visual History with Joyce Thomas
Interviewed by:Glenna Meeks
Joyce Thomas was born in Manhattan, New York in 1960. She graduated from Brooklyn College, and though she had not envisioned a career in media, she loved television from an early age. She started working for CBS in 1982 in their magazine division and eventually made her way to a position at local CBS affiliate, WCBS, in operations management. Thomas has worked at CBS for more than 30 years, joining the Guild in 1996 as an Associate Director/Technical Supervisor in the Broadcast Operations Department and currently works as an Associate Director/Technical Manager at the network’s Media Distribution Center in New York.
Thomas has created a prominent career of service to the Guild. She was elected to serve as an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer to the National Board. She has served on three Network Agreement Negotiating Committees and has been elected to the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council nine times, serving three terms as Council Chair. She has served as the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee Co-Chair for four terms and as the Co-Chair for the Focus on Women Committee. For her contributions to the Guild and the industry, she received the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award in 2021.
Thomas has been a member of the Directors Guild since 1996.
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Highlights


On the Skills of an Associate Director
Associate Director Joyce Thomas on the importance of the skills of an Associate Director in timing out to the last frame or second of a network show.
Joyce Thomas / On the Skills of an Associate Director
Associate Director Joyce Thomas on the importance of the skills of an Associate Director in timing out to the last frame or second of a network show.


On Recovering from Technical Difficulties
Thomas outlines speed and preparation as keys to recovering from technical difficulties.
Joyce Thomas / On Recovering from Technical Difficulties
Thomas outlines speed and preparation as keys to recovering from technical difficulties.


On Contributing to the Guild
Thomas reflects on what she has learned from becoming an active Guild member and suggests other members give their time to the organization to help improve it.
Joyce Thomas / On Contributing to the Guild
Thomas reflects on what she has learned from becoming an active Guild member and suggests other members give their time to the organization to help improve it.