From feeling unseen in high school to becoming a nationally recognized journalist, Siberah Rayford’s journey proves that discovering your voice and passion can change everything.
Siberah Rayford is a current Fox News co-anchor and EMMY nominated journalist. She was recently invited to speak to the Hale journalism and yearbook classes.
She holds a degree in journalism from University of Kentucky where she transitioned from sports coverage to current events and news.
Rayford spoke to the students about her high school experience and journey to discovering her passion and love for professional news reporting.
“I felt kind of lost freshman year,” Rayford said. Like many highschoolers Rayford hadn’t yet discovered something she was truly passionate about.
She spoke about how she was often recognized for her height and potential as a multi-sport athlete, but not for her authentic mind.
It wasn’t until she joined the high school yearbook team, covering sports stories, that she discovered her love for writing and reporting.
“This was the first time that I felt truly seen,” Rayford said.
A pivotal moment came when her yearbook adviser told her she had “way too much personality” to be in a behind-the-scenes role. He encouraged her to try broadcasting instead, a suggestion that eventually changed the course of her life.
One of Rayford’s most significant career milestones was a recent feature on the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black teenager whose death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
Rayford’s work on the Northwest African American Museum’s exhibition about Till was extremely moving. The story featured an emotional interview with Till’s cousin, Wheeler Parker Jr., who spoke about the ongoing importance of remembering the past. While the majority of feedback from the interview was positive, some people were questioning the need to resurface Emmett Till’s death years later.
“We need not forget how we got there,” Parker said in the interview. “We’re not that far removed from times of tension, heartache—times of peril.” For Rayford, it wasn’t just about telling the story of Till’s murder, but about ensuring that those who lived through such painful histories were authentically represented in the media.
“It’s never too late to tell your story. Every story matters—getting it right matters,” Rayford said.
Now, with a journalism career that has taken her to Lexington, KY, West Palm Beach, FL, Houston, TX, and Seattle, WA, Rayford continues to emphasize stories rooted in truth-telling, connection, and empathy. Her passion, she says, has always been more about the inner world, uncovering and highlighting the emotional core of human stories.
As she shared with the students, her journey has been filled with both challenges and success.
“You have to have tough skin,” she said. “You are always going to find people who are uncomfortable with the truth.”
Rayford encourages young people to stay true to themselves, especially in a world where media is constantly evolving. “Stay the course—stay authentic about you,” she advised. “You’ll make yourself be seen.”
Rayford emphasized the importance of casting your nets wide, staying curious, and always working to bridge communities through journalism.
“Journalism is about getting the truth, helping people feel heard, and bridging communities,” she said. “It’s important to get outside your own ego.”
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