Author

Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He lives in Leawood with his wife and two children.

OPINION
One of the many yard signs weighing in on the Aug. 2 constitutional amendment vote in Kansas states its case. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)

Blaming mainstream media provides a misleading shortcut for Value Them Both

By: - August 5, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. On election night Tuesday, I read a tweet from Kansas […]

OPINION
The U.S. men’s national soccer team warms up before a friendly match against the national team of Uruguay on June 5, 2022, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. (Eric Thomas)

A guide to soccer in Kansas now that KC is hosting the World Cup in 2026

By: - July 29, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Last month, the international governing body of soccer announced Kansas […]

OPINION
Wind farms stretch across fields to the north and south of I-70 in Kansas and Colorado. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)

We’re melting as we banter about the weather in Kansas

By: - July 22, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Let’s talk about the weather. Yes, the weather. That […]

OPINION
One of the many yard signs weighing in on the Aug. 2 constitutional amendment vote in Kansas states its case. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)

What those Kansas abortion amendment yard signs are really saying

By: - July 15, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Kansas neighborhoods have been flaunting new landscaping in the […]

OPINION
Members of the Missouri Tigers celebrate after winning the Big 12 basketball tournament against the Baylor Bears on March 10, 2012, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Midwest college grudge matches vanish during conference realignment

By: - July 8, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. My wife’s stepdad, Mike, was notoriously slow to soften. […]

OPINION
Abortion-rights activist Jamie McIntyre reacts to the ruling that overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Post-Roe, herding ourselves over politics will do nothing but further hurt us

By: - July 1, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. The reaction to the Supreme Court stripping away a […]

OPINION
A cross-country trip reminds columnist Eric Thomas of how suburban comforts, like Chipotle, really are the same everywhere, and how we might change perspectives. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

From Kansas to Michigan, the devilish conformity of our American suburbs

By: - June 24, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. This week, my son and I pointed our SUV […]

OPINION

In my Kansas backyard, a parable for Texas school shooting 

By: - June 10, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. My daughter came in from our backyard to tell […]

OPINION

Screaming on the sidelines: Confessions of a semi-reformed sports dad in Kansas

By: - June 3, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Any parent who has a child playing sports has […]

OPINION
Stand back and marvel with me, writes Eric Thomas. Consider how these Kansas kids are working on heroically small publication staffs in rural towns while juggling so many other responsibilities. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Small-town student journalists and advisers inspire giant admiration

By: - May 28, 2022

Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. If you look at the city of Burrton on […]

OPINION
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt answers questions from the news media at Monday’s redistricting arguments at the state supreme court. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)

Going plus-one: Republicans keep leapfrogging previous political barriers

By: - May 20, 2022

Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. This week’s Kansas Supreme Court’s decision permitting Republican-drawn legislative maps delivers so many different lessons.  It just depends on who you are.  A Black […]

OPINION

Fentanyl’s poisonous toll aided by stubborn inaction from Kansas officials

By: - May 13, 2022

Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Imagine a drug so deadly that a few powdered grains could kill you. A drug that puts you in the emergency room through contact […]