NVT’s leadership team plans new outreach, podcast and merch to boost student press freedom before next session

By Faye Zayed

A record of 17 officers and specialists. Six returning and 11 new. This is the largest number of student journalists across the state that New Voices Texas (NVT) has had before. With the growth, NVT is determined to increase outreach and build connections with state lawmakers to prepare for the legislative session in 2027. 

NVT is a non-profit, student-led organization that focuses on protecting student journalists and advisers by passing the New Voices Bill. The bill will prevent the censorship, prior review and or prior restraint of student media.  

“This year’s team is larger than ever before which means that we can hopefully accomplish more in terms of our advocacy and connecting with legislators,” Co-Education Officer Katie Grumet said. “I’m extremely hopeful with this new team, we have a lot of eager and excited new members that have lots of ideas and are ready to take action.”

Unlike other years, NVT aims to start a podcast with hosts Sydney Ortiz, Communications and  Legislative specialist, and Grumet. They plan to interview advisers, student journalists and state representatives to hear their perspective and thoughts about student press rights. 

“Podcasting is a great tool for advocacy because I have seen the impact it has had on the world in such a short time period,” Ortiz said. “In the last decade podcast views have skyrocketed and it is a convenient way for people to gain information. They can listen anywhere at any time, which allows us to share our goals and information to a much wider audience.”

Along with a podcast, the officers and specialists have agreed to start designing new merchandise, adding tote bags and stickers into their collection. The leadership team anticipates getting the designs and merch printed before Fall Fiesta TAJE, which is a state wide journalism conference. 

“Having merchandise that displays NVT’s message is incredibly important because when we have eye-catching apparel, people are bound to take notice,” Communications Specialist Ava Weaver said. “Because humans are curious, hopefully it will spark interest in our cause for the people that see our merch.”

For social media, this year will be heavy on bringing awareness to NVT and expanding outreach. They plan on increasing educational posts and videos showcasing how the New Voices bill works and why it is important. Furthermore, they intend to start an adviser spotlight, where students can submit their adviser to be featured on the NVT Instagram. 

“I enjoy helping brainstorm different ways for us to get our organization out there,” Grumet said. “NVT challenges me to be creative in the way that advocates and challenges me to think about how to get people passionate about student press rights.”

Before the school year, the regional organizers will send out emails to advisers to increase awareness about NVT. When school starts, the leadership team aspires to meet every two weeks.

“I remember that last year it took a few decent four to five months for us to really open up and connect,” state organizing officer Poojasai Kona said. “But from the get-go this year I feel connected to all my officers. I feel I can rely on them for anything and they can rely on me. We have each other’s backs, and we support each other.”

Last year, NVT had a Lobby Day on March 17, where officers and volunteers, Michael Reeves, Ava Weaver, Erick Garcia, Faye Zayed, Charlotte Schwarte, Elizabeth Yowell and David Doerr came together to speak to legislative offices to gain support for their HB (4821).

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime to go to the capitol and lobby for this bill,” Garcia said. “Speaking to the legislative offices was a new point of contact that I’ve ever done before. Speaking with State Rep. Diego Bernal was a whole different world. He was able to connect us journalists with how we are superheroes and how we use our skills for good.” 

The bill was first sponsored by State Rep. Gina Hinojosa and after Lobby Day, State Rep. Diego Bernal expressed interest in becoming a co-sponsor. Ultimately, the bill wasn’t scheduled to the public education committee, ending its chances of passing.  

“Speaking to legislators was a very empowering experience because everyone that I spoke to admired what I was doing, which gave me confidence not only in my advocacy abilities but in speaking to [others] in power,” Grumet said. “Legislators typically respond really well to seeing people, especially students, showing up at the Capitol advocating for their cause.”

For student journalists in Texas interested in learning more, they can connect with NVT through their instagram, @newvoicestx. 

“Student press rights matter because they protect our ability to report the truth and represent student voices without censorship,” Garcia said. “They teach us how real journalism works, how to ask hard questions and think critically.”

Join us at the Capitol in Austin on Monday, March 17, to fight for a New Voices bill in Texas!

We expect a New Voices bill to be filed by the end of the week and now it’s time for us to demand that lawmakers pass it this year.

We are scheduling appointments to allow supporters to speak directly with lawmakers and their staffers, especially those on the Texas Public Education Committee. And now we’d like to share the details of when to be there, where to park and what to expect when you get to the Capitol. 

We recommend getting into downtown Austin by 8:30 a.m. at the latest because of traffic and limited parking at the Capitol’s parking garage. We highly suggest that you park at the Capitol’s official Visitors Parking garage between San Jacinto Blvd. and Trinity St. It’s much cheaper than other garages and lots nearby. However, if that garage is full, here’s a website that you can use to look up other lots and garages nearby. 

We ask that participants find us by 9 a.m. at our meetup spot in front of the African American Monument near the southern edge of the Capitol complex. See this map to find the meet-up spot. We plan to train attendees and go over directions and procedures right at 9 a.m. so please don’t be late!

After meetings with various lawmakers, we plan to finish our meetings by 2 p.m. and end the day with a debriefing by 3 p.m. If you still would like to join us, please fill out this Google Form as soon as possible so we know how many to expect so we can purchase donuts and lunch for our participants.

We will have some expenses to pay for our lobby efforts so please consider making a financial contribution to help us pay our bills. 

Thank you all for your continued support of New Voices Texas. See you at the Capitol!

Agenda

• 9 – 9:30 a.m.: Meet at the Texas African American History Memorial for donuts and a small briefing.
• 9:30 a.m. — Walk inside the Capitol and go through security checks. After security checks, we will find a meet up inside the Capitol Cafe for the rest of the day.
• 10 a.m. – noon — Conduct meetings with legislators and/or their staff (each advocate will have a personalized schedule of meeting times).
• Noon: Head back to the Texas African American History Memorial for a picnic pizza lunch.
• 12:45 p.m.: Walk back inside the Capitol and go through security checks.
• 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Conduct meetings with legislators and/or their staff (each advocate will have a personalized schedule of meeting times).
• 2 p.m.: Meet at the cafe and then head back to the Texas African American History Memorial for a final quick debrief.
• 2:30 p.m.: Lobby Day is over! Thank you for attending.

What to Bring: 

• Throughout the day, we will work in groups to meet with various lawmakers and speak to them about the importance of New Voices legislation. Each lobby day attendee will receive a folder, complete with a set of printed materials to reference. While attending these meetings, it would be helpful to have the following:
  • Notebook and pen, for note-taking 
  • Water and snacks

What to Wear: 

• Please try to dress professionally when meeting with legislators. Select comfortable shoes, as we will be walking across the Capitol grounds for each meeting. 
• If you have a New Voices Texas t-shirt, that would be great to wear, as well.

How can I prepare? 

• As student journalists, advisers, or people involved in scholastic media, we are very familiar with telling stories. A lobby day effort is all about personalizing the issue at hand. What specific experiences can you share about how you engage with your school, and greater community? 

GroupMe:

• All advocates that have signed up to attend, are asked to join our GroupMe chat, “New Voices Lobby Day 2025,” for all communication during the day.
• If you do not have the app, try to download it so that communication is easier. If you are unable to download the app, you will receive SMS messages from it.
• If you are unable to use our GroupMe for any reason during the day, text our Lobby Day coordinator Poojasai Kona at 402-440-1660.

It’s time to pass the leadership torch to new officers for New Voices Texas while many of our current officers will soon graduate.

We have set May 31 as the deadline for students to apply to become an officer with our student-led advocacy organization.

We will need to fill multiple leadership positions for the coming 2024-2025 school year, which will include a legislative session in which we intend to make a major push to have a New Voices law padded in Texas. We are in particular need of Regional Officers from each corner of the state so there will be lots of opportunities to get involved this year.

And we are open to additional students serving as “Specialists” for things like regional organizing, social media, and all-around promotion.

New Voices Texas Officers Application

Please apply to become a New Voices Texas officer for the 2024-2025 school year.

New Voices Officer positions include:

• Legislative Officer
• Communications Officer
• Regional Organizer (four positions to represent West, East, North and South/Central Texas)
• Educational Officer
• Club Development Officer

If you know you are interested in becoming an officer, please use this form to apply today!

Volunteer Interest Form

If you are unsure about your ability to serve as an officer but are interested in getting involved with advocating for New Voices Texas, please fill out our Interest Form linked below:

May 17 is deadline to apply for SPLC’s virtual Summer New Voices Student Leaders Institute

There is also a great opportunity to be a part of the Student Press Law Center’s national New Voices Student Leaders Institute this summer. If you know a high school student interested in leading the fight to restore and protect student press freedom in your state, encourage them to apply today!

Applicants are accepted from all states for this free program, which runs Tuesday-Thursday afternoons July 18-27. Click here for more information on the New Voices Student Leaders Institute.

The application closes at midnight ET May 17. We’re looking forward to meeting our next cohort of New Voices Student Leaders!

Participants in the all-online program will be joined by Student Press Law Center staff, New Voices leaders, and special guests to learn their unique capacity as organizers, deepen their understanding of civics, lobbying and press freedom, and expand their ability to act as advocates. By the end of the Institute, Student Leaders will identify the pressing needs in their state and local communities and the unique ways in which students can respond, as well as possess the tools necessary to combat these challenges. 

The Institute will run from July 16-25. Last year participants were expect to participate from Tuesday – Thursday from 1 pm – 4 pm Eastern/10 am – 1 pm Pacific time, with optional sessions until 5 pm Eastern/2 pm Pacific.

Participation in the Institute is free, but students will commit to serving as student leaders in the New Voices movement during the 2024-2025 advocacy year. For more information about the summer institute, visit the SPLC website.

Application Due by May 17.

Catharine Li, the former Communications Officer of New Voices Texas was named the Student Press Advocate of the year on Oct. 9, during the Texas Association of Journalism Educators’ (TAJE) annual Fall Fiesta Convention.

Li, who currently attends the University of Massachusetts — Amherst, accepted the award virtually in front of the 600 students and journalism advisers in attendance for the convention’s awards ceremony. Li, had previously served as the Communications Officer for New Voices Texas, for two years before receiving this award, which was the first such award given to a student from TAJE.

David Doerr, TAJE’s Legislative and Policy Committee Chair, introduced Li and shared examples of the important work she had done to promote New Voices legislation in Texas. Doerr, who also serves as NVT’s Adviser Officer, worked closely with Li in her communications role in which she oversaw the website and social media channels for New Voices Texas as the Communications Officer. Beyond her focus on communications work, Li was the go-to person for getting things done for all sorts of projects. 

Li’s talents and dedication were especially apparent when working with NVT’s legislative officer to organize an in-person Lobby Day event at the Texas Capitol during Spring Break this year. This event required communicating with various audiences, including volunteer student activists, lawmakers, and the public at large via our website and social media channels. Her work was invaluable in helping NVT make this event a success and achieving its lobbying goals at the Capitol. 

Below is an excerpt of her award acceptance speech:

Congrats to Catharine, who graduated from Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD in June after serving as the co-editor-in-chief of The Horizon student newspaper.