Isabella Silerio is the Head Producer for the Broadcast department of Eagle Nation News at Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. Silerio works with the other officers and specialists to develop New Voices clubs around the state of Texas.

“Journalism within its self is about revealing the truth, no matter what side it pleases. We as young people are growing up in a state that wants to silence our voices. As censorship tun rampant through Texas, it needs to make an upmost priority that students can express their ideas freely. For we will bear the burdens of one sided media and conversations if such actions don’t take place. New Voices can make it possible that our work and voice is protected under law so that no matter what background we have or conversations we try to unfold, we can do so in a free matter.”

What I Do

As the Club Development officer of New Voices Texas, I work to develop a New Voices Club within my school as well as other high schools in order to raise awareness for legislation for students’ right to free press. I work to manage a functional club and social media to keep journalist and non-journalist students engaged and interested. 

I am responsible for the development of New Voices Texas Clubs across high schools by reaching out to high school publications to make space for all students to discuss issues regarding our right to free speech and press in our schools. It’s my duty to inform those who may not be aware that we have rights regarding our free speech that should be protected by law. By doing this, it will give students, like me, who have been blocked by their schools from publishing certain works, a way to be protected while also fulfilling the journalists responsibility of reporting the truth. 

I will measure success as an officer by the amount of awareness and clubs I am able to develop within the school year. If true success is achieved then New Voices will have a plethora of new advocates in clubs that will fight for our right to be heard. 

By the end of the school year I hope that I have a functional club within my own school as well as schools around the state that I helped start up. With growing levels of technology and communication it is possible to grow the network of New Voices in every school where student publications exist.