COLUMN: Journalism Is More Than An Elective

Photo Caption: The Epic News Network Journalism and Creative Media students attended the Oklahoma Scholastic Media’s Spring Media Day at the University of Oklahoma. The students and program received 11 awards, including the prestigious All Oklahoma award for the program’s contributions to its community.

Pictured (left to right): Back Row - Jeff Raymond, Harrison Favero, Jada Schenck, Matt Disney, Madison Horton, Trezlie Cramer, Alyssa Carter. Front Row - Cya’Lyce Harris, Rylee Byers, Kinzie Click, Amy Martinez-Reynolds, Maleigha Ude, Jenna McKey, Joshlyn McKey, Elizabeth Stidham.

Editor's Note: As an end-of-the-year surprise, students in the ENN Advanced Journalism Class chose to turn their skills into this opinion column celebrating not just journalism, but their journalism instructor as well. The ENN courses, including journalism, are overseen by a team of instructors: Jeff Raymond, Elizabeth Stidham, Mary Beth Jamison, and Phil Cross.

Trying to decide what electives to take as a freshman? Here’s a simple suggestion: choose journalism. If you’re creative, curious, or just someone who loves stories, journalism might be the perfect place for you. I’ve always been an avid reader and writer, but it wasn’t until I joined journalism that I learned how to share stories with the world through my own voice. And I learned that from none other than Epic’s own Jeffrey “Jeff” Raymond.

If you’ve ever met Raymond, you know immediately he’s the kind of teacher who makes you love his class before you’ve even logged in. Raymond could be teaching AP Calculus, and I’d still show up. He’s patient, encouraging, and never gives students more than they can handle—yet somehow we still manage to exceed expectations.

Raymond graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in biology before working for The Oklahoman and several other news outlets. He joined Epic in 2023 and has spent the last three years shaping the journalism and creative media program into a place where students feel seen, supported, and capable. Along with teaching Oklahoma City Epic’s journalism courses, he is also an instructor for the Epic News Network (ENN), helping students produce stories, photos, videos, and broadcasts that reach audiences across the state.

For many students, Raymond isn’t just a teacher—he’s a mentor who changes the trajectory of their high school experience.

Graduating senior Rylee Byers, who has worked with Raymond since ninth grade, said he will continue to be “a strong mentor and source of encouragement and wisdom even after high school.” She shared a lesson she learned from him—not spoken outright, but shown through his teaching: “Never feel limited by a story.”

Whether a topic seems too big, too complicated, or blocked by lack of resources, Raymond teaches students that there is always a way to write about what matters to them. “If a project hits a wall, that doesn’t reflect your ability,” Rylee said. “Your value lies in how you pivot, problem‑solve, and stay opportunity‑driven.”

Journalism became a platform for her creativity and connection. “Writing has always been a strong art form in my life,” she said. “Journalism gave me a way to express my passions in a way that matters.” Raymond’s mentorship gave her the confidence to pursue interviews, research, and professional‑level stories she never imagined writing as a freshman.

Students consistently describe Raymond as someone who sees potential before they see it in themselves.

Kaylee Steer, one of his journalism students, said the most important thing Raymond taught her was “how to be a better writer.” Journalism matters to her because “I can write about the things that are normally considered unimportant.” She added that Raymond helped her reach her goal of improving with every story: “He never makes me feel like my writing is bad. He’s always there to help me in any way he can—even if it’s emailing my mom to convince her to take me to prom.”

She calls him “the best journalism teacher I could ever ask for.”

Madison Horton, who has been in Raymond’s journalism class for the past two years, said one of the biggest things she gained from the program was confidence.

“When I first joined his class, I was super nervous about the interviewing aspect of it all,” she said. “But through his class, I’ve been able to branch out and be more comfortable with that. That’s really stuck with me as someone who rarely goes out of my comfort zone.”

For Madison, journalism became both a creative outlet and a way to combine two of her passions. She said Raymond helped her pursue her goal of connecting meteorology with journalism through storytelling and multimedia work.

“I wanted to be able to combine my passion for meteorology with my passion for journalism,” she said. “Through all that Jeff has taught me, I have been able to do that, which really means a lot to me.”

She also described Raymond’s classroom environment as one of the reasons students feel comfortable taking risks creatively.

“His classes are not the traditional class, and it really feels like we’re all a group of friends just hanging out with some learning on the side,” Madison said. “His dad jokes also make it more fun.”

Kinzie Click, who works with Raymond in Advanced Journalism and Editorial Club, said the lesson that stuck with her the most was that “sometimes when writing a story, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Some of the best stories come from taking initiative.” She credits Raymond with pushing her to think outside the box and give 100 percent.

Her favorite thing about him? “How kind and caring he is toward all of his students. Even when I’m stubborn or procrastinating, he never gives up on me. He believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself.”

Raymond’s classes are known for their nontraditional, welcoming atmosphere—part newsroom, part hangout, part creative studio.

Bristol Mealor, who knows Raymond through ENN, said the lesson that stuck with her most was “the importance of research.” Journalism became a creative outlet that helped her grow as a writer. “I never had any specific goals, but Jeff helped me with whatever I needed,” she said. Her favorite thing about him? “His wittiness and his awful jokes. I’m forever going to miss them.”

Joshlyn McKey, an advanced journalism student and ENN newscast contributor, said Raymond taught her the value of having someone double‑check your work—“even if you think it’s good.”

She loves writing for the magazine because it gives her work purpose. Raymond also helped her navigate college questions and the application process. She appreciates “how willing he is to work with us and how much he loves what he does—enough to teach it to middle and high school students who don’t want to turn on their camera half the time.”

For many students, journalism became more than an elective—it became a path forward.

Amy Martinez‑Reynolds said Raymond taught her not to sell herself short. “He’s always giving everyone opportunities,” she said. “From photographers for the website to artists for the magazine. He believes in us so much.”

Journalism opened doors she never expected: investigative writing, photography, Photoshop, and even scriptwriting for ENN. “Now I have communication skills, connections, and one heck of a résumé,” she said.

Her favorite thing about Raymond? “He’s like a personal cheerleader. He knows how to read a room and always finds a way to slip in a funny comment or joke.”

Raymond is truly one of the best teachers I could ask for. As I prepare to leave Epic this year, his lessons are something I’ll carry with me—not just as I continue to pursue journalism, but in every part of my life. He taught me, and so many others, that our voices matter. That our stories matter. And that we are capable of more than we think.

If you’re a freshman trying to decide what elective to take, consider this your sign: choose journalism. Choose a class where your creativity is welcomed, your ideas are valued, and your teacher believes in you from day one.

Choose Jeff Raymond’s class. You won’t regret it.