He has recently published stories on U.S. politics and globalization. Before moving to Germany, Thompson was editor-in-chief at the non-profit news organization, High Country News. During his time at HCN, the publication and its writers won dozens of awards, including the 2010 Hillman Prize and the 2010 Utne Reader Independent Press Award for Best Environmental Coverage. Before that, he owned and edited two publications in the tiny mountain town of Silverton, Colo. He has a B.A. in math and philosophy from St. Johns College in Santa Fe.