BOSTON -- Jim Thistle, a former news director at WCVB, has died, his family said Tuesday.

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Thistle, 66, a life-long resident of Everett, lost his fight with cancer Tuesday at Beth Israel Hospital.

One of the most respected and admired journalists in Boston broadcasting history, Thistle held leadership posts at all of the city's three major network affiliates, including several stints in political and special-events producer roles and an eight-year tenure as news director at WCVB.

"Generations of journalism professionals and students owe a debt of gratitude to Jim. He will be sorely missed by all of us at WCVB, but always remembered for his unique ability to teach and encourage everyone to serve the television viewers of Boston with the highest standards of integrity and excellence," WCVB-TV/DT President and General Manager Bill Fine said. "The entire Thistle family is in our thoughts and prayers today, with sincere condolences from everyone at Channel 5."

"We have been fortunate at Channel 5 to work for many good news directors, but a Thistle newsroom was special. A place where everyone's opinion mattered. You fought hard for what you believed was right, and in the end, the best idea won," former WCVB anchor Natalie Jacobson said.

He was the director of the Broadcast Journalism program at Boston University and a frequent commentator and analyst on news media issues for local and national outlets.

"Jim represented all that was good in journalism education and the news industry. He was a great teacher and mentor to his students during his nearly three decades as a professor teaching broadcast journalism," Boston University College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler said in a statement.