John Thompson (journalist)

John Brian Thompson CBE (8 June 1928 – 18 May 2017) was a British journalist and radio regulator who was influential in the development of independent radio in the United Kingdom, becoming known as "the father of independent radio". He had a career on The Daily Express and The Observer, where he was early editor of the colour magazine, before becoming the first director of radio of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) from 1972 to 1987. He was succeeded by his deputy Peter Baldwin.