Caleb Okes - '24
Finding His Beat: Okes Returns Home as a Multimedia Journalist
Six months into his role as a multimedia journalist at WVNS 59 News in his native West Virginia, Caleb Okes has already investigated a governor’s questionable business practices, covered NFL team practices, and prepared locals for winter storms.
“Every day is a new journey,” Okes says, describing himself as a “one-man wrecking crew” who covers five different counties on a normal basis. Okes routinely writes, films, and edits his own news stories, skills he honed in Southern Wesleyan University’s Media Communication program under Dr. Lewis Knight. Now, Okes serves thousands of West Virginia households.
The transition from college to career came swiftly for Okes. He started at WVNS just 12 days after graduation while still recovering from illness. His days can begin as early as 3 AM, covering everything from breaking news to sports.
Between stories, Okes is building a life that balances profession and purpose. “Working has forced me to make a decision about commitment,” he says. “I always wanted to be committed to my faith, and that’s one thing that I never wanted to let go of.” He balances weekend work shifts with church and family time and especially enjoys hanging out with his siblings who are still in high school.
The technical precision Okes needs in broadcast journalism draws directly from his college training. “Each day, I go back to the very first news package I ever did with Dr. Knight,” Okes explains. “In a fast-paced environment, you have to nail the basics: no black spots in the footage, keeping shots fresh, and maximizing limited footage. Those fundamentals save you when you’re editing between long drives and interview wait times.”
While he’s focused on mastering daily news, Okes has already begun anchor training with an eye toward public relations. “The way that you get better job opportunities is by being an anchor,” he says, sharing advice he received from a producer. “Once people see your ethics and how you handle yourself on TV, that opens other avenues.”
Though he came to Southern Wesleyan University on a soccer scholarship, Okes has found his greatest athletic moments behind the camera. His final student film, Gridiron Dreams, recently brought him back to campus for a special screening. “It’s a love letter to SWU,” he says of the project, which features many of his favorite professors and classmates.
In his rare downtime, Okes heads to the gym or simply revels in the quiet moments he never expected to have once he entered the working world. Occasionally he’s called on his day off to cover a local sports event or just the weather. But whether he’s in his home county of Summers or driving the hour-plus to Greenbrier, he’s using the skills he built at SWU to tell the stories of a region he calls home.