Watchdog journalist. Talk-show host. Air Force Captain. Writer. Father.
Host of The Burnie Thompson Show in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Air Force, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah.
Taught persuasive writing at Penn State, Weber State, and Gulf Coast State College.
Burnie founded The Society for Watchdog Journalism to make government more honest by holding officials accountable through investigative journalism. Transparency is the first step to restoring public trust in our institutions. And it begins with independent Watchdogs at the local level.
Master’s Degree in English from Penn State (2006)
Master’s Degree in Journalism from USC in Los Angeles (2002)
Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Cal State Fullerton (2000)
City of Panama City Beach racial discrimination trial begins Oct. 9
Read the facts of Kozmas Smith, Shane Smith, Landon Green, and Ervin Green v. City of Panama City Beach here: Kozmas DENY SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Watch Dog
Whistleblower complaint against Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford alleges coverups, abuse, racial discrimination
Read the Whistleblower Complaint
Judge denies Finch’s renewed Motion for Acquittal based on lack of evidence
READ JUDGE’S RULING: Judge Denies Finch Renewed Motion for Acquittal Federal Judge Mark Walker has denied James Finch’s Rule 29 renewed Motion to Acquit based on lack of evidence to convict. The Lynn Haven developer, who has faced four rewrites to the indictment and a hung jury on both counts of bribery, will face another…
Finch’s Rebuttal to Prosecutors’ Opposition to Rule 29 Acquittal
Finchs Rebuttal to Prosecutors Opposition to Acquittal Federal Judge Mark Walker now has everything he needs to issue a ruling on whether or not acquit defendant James Finch based on the evidence presented at trial. Federal Rule 29 requires the Court to acquit a defendant if there’s not enough evidence for a conviction. A Rule…
Prosecutors’ response to Finch’s Renewed Motion for Acquittal
Here’s the response from the U.S. Attorney’s Office to James Finch’s Motion for Acquittal. Defendant Finch will issue a rebuttal next week. After that, Federal Judge Mark Walker will issue a ruling on whether or not he will acquit Finch based on insufficient evidence for a conviction. Govt Response Rule 29
Renewed Motion for Judgement of Acquittal in James Finch retrial
Read the latest motion for acquittal here: 2023-03-29 – 542 – Finch Renewed Mot for JOA
“Bad actors” and “bad acts” list filed by Lynn Haven Defendant James Finch
Defendant James Finch filed the list of “bad actors” and “bad acts” as federal Judge Mark Walker considers sanctions against the lead prosecutor, two lead investigators, and three Lynn Haven officials. See the court filing here: Bad Actors and Bad Acts Court Filing Case 5:20-cr-00028-MW-MJF Document 419 Filed 12/23/22 Page 1 of 21 UNITED STATES…