Trisha Panicker is the Editor-in-Chief of Eagle Nation Online at Prosper High School in Prosper. Passing a New Voices law in Texas is necessary to boost the voice of student journalists who don’t have the privilege of speaking out against the injustices that have happened to them. Student journalists are vital to communicating a fresh perspective on societal issues and events that other journalists don’t have.

What I Do

As the Club Development Officer of New Voices Texas, I work to create accessible educational materials and club starter kits to help Texas high schools start their own clubs and clear the misconceptions surrounding students’ right to free press. I work to make starting clubs a hassle-free process and bridge the educational gap between journalist and non-journalist students, which would help pass laws protecting student journalists. 

I am responsible for creating club materials to help foster the development of New Voices Texas clubs all across the state. It is my job to teach student journalists about their free speech and press rights by communicating with high school publications to help them start their own clubs. 

I will measure my success as an officer by the amount of new clubs that spring up during this school year. This will mean that through accessible club materials, student press knowledge has expanded to more student journalists in Texas, therefore furthering New Voices’ mission to pass legislation. 

By the end of the school year, I hope to establish many more New Voices Texas clubs, helping to connect the highschools from the different areas of Texas. I want to increase the communication between student journalists from all parts of this state through these clubs and the work that they will do.