Ishrat Madiha is the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper for Eagle Nation News at Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. Madiha works alongside her fellow officers and specialists to educate and inform law makers and students about the importance of student press laws.

“Student journalism is the starting point for the nation’s future news leads. It is incredibly important that young adults and teens take care of their community by keeping everyone updated, educated, and informed through honest news. Without protection, these student journalists face the risk of censorship and lose their value as reporters. It is wrong to expect the harsh truth from bigger news outlets but silence and censor student journalists expressing their views in an organized manner. Every student journalist deserves the protection of a legislation that will have their backs when they do their job.”

What I Do

As the Education officer of New Voices Texas, I work to raise awareness about the issues student journalists face with a lack of legislation and full freedom of press. One of the most important parts of reaching legislators and making a change is having a good group of people who believe in the cause. For that, education on the topic is necessary. From helping people learn about laws and legislations to real journalism at its core to how one can make a change, as the Education officer, I will cover it all. 

I plan to reach a wide range of teens and adults that would be interested in the New Voices goal. Organizing events around the cause, such as school board meetings that entertain issues brought up by youth in front of adults that can help make a change, is one of the main ways I plan to help take us a step forward. In addition, I will also generate articles, informational social media posts and campaigns, and other projects to lead people.