Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas focuses on teaching visual communication, supporting scholastic journalism and connecting high school journalists to the university. 

At KU, Thomas teaches a variety of subjects, but specializes in visual journalism classes like Visual Storytelling, Photojournalism and Documentary. He has also been a frequent teacher of the school's introductory class, Media & Society. Before he began teaching, Thomas worked for a community newspaper in Indiana, the Marion Chronicle-Tribune, as a staff photographer. In response to a ten-part special series by the newspaper, the local community nominated the newspaper for a Pulitzer Prize.

As the executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association from 2014 to 2024, Thomas led the organization’s programming, such as contests, scholarships, conventions and critiques. During his time as director, Thomas helped the nonprofit celebrate key anniversaries, including the 50th anniversary of the association and the 25th anniversary of the Kansas student publications act. 

For 10 summers, Thomas also directed the Jayhawk Media Workshop, a five-day summer camp for high school students who are interested in journalism. Over the decades, the camp (formerly the Kansas Journalism Institute) has introduced thousands of students to the KU campus and drawn them to enroll. 

He began his teaching career at St. Teresa’s Academy, where he advised student publications, including the student newspaper, yearbook and online new site. During his time teaching in high school, Thomas earned the 2006 Missouri High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. All three publications earned the highest awards in high school journalism by being nominated for the NSPA Pacemaker eight times and winning four.

Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in photojournalism and a master’s degree in journalism education from the University of Missouri.