Twenty-five high school students from 15 states learned how to lead their states’ fights for student press freedom as part of the Student Press Law Center’s seventh annual New Voices Student Leaders Institute this summer. Learn more about what they learned here.
The institute’s message was clear: Student voices can pass the New Voices laws needed to protect students’ First Amendment rights. Now, the new leaders are ready to put their strategies and new skills into action to do just that.
Sriram Chiripurapu is one of those students. He is a junior at Rock Ridge High School in Virginia where he serves as the Features Editor of The Blaze for the 2026-2027 school year. He shares his experience at the Institute and what comes next for his advocacy.
Hi, I’m Sriram, and I’m a student journalist. Often, as student journalists, we find ourselves covering stories that most news organizations can’t. We are in a very unique position; we cover stories happening within schools that, without us, the community may never know about. Often, I find myself walking across the halls, stumbling upon stories of teachers, students and faculty; whether it be how their day was, what challenges they faced or international accomplishments. I, as a student journalist, can amplify the views of my peers, giving them a stage to address their concerns.
In theory, what we do uplifts the community, allowing transparency and feedback, yet often, student journalists are treated as threats rather than helpers. Administrators have used their power of censorship, ranging from prior review or pressuring staff to withholding a newsroom’s ability to cover a story by confiscating equipment. We find ourselves in a precarious situation where we as journalists aren’t able to present the truth to the community — a truth, if stifled, would only hurt the community. I am truly grateful for having a supportive administration, but many student journalists that I know do not have that luxury.
The New Voices Student Leaders Institute offered me a way to protect our ability as a student press. It taught me how I can help student journalists in my community and also those across my state to stand up for our ability to write the truth. Although it was a two-week institute, I found myself learning about ideas and laws that I had never learned before. Speakers like Steve Listopad and Laura Prather showed me how good communication can bridge the aisle, bringing together legislators who often share opposing ideologies.
What was truly enlightening, though, was meeting New Voices Georgia, a student team who had been able to introduce a bill, speak with legislators and partner with external organizations to spread awareness about New Voices. It was truly so heartwarming to see student journalists just like me taking the same action and making a real difference.
Even though the institute has ended, I haven’t felt alone since. The support New Voices gives to its students is unmatched. In Virginia, I hope to help bolster New Voices legislation, expanding current protections for college students to high school students across the state. By identifying legislators who often support student literacy expansion, a skill I learned through the institute, we were able, as a coalition, to expand our network of connected legislators. As the year progresses, I hope to be able to guarantee the same protections my own school administrators have given me.
For anyone who is passionate about protecting the rights of student journalists, I strongly recommend joining the New Voices Student Leaders Institute. The skills and lessons that you learn from this institute are unlike any that you may see! If you do join, I wish you the very best in expanding your understanding of student journalism, and your journey in New Voices advocacy!
New Voices is a student-led, nonpartisan movement working to end censorship of student media by passing state laws that protect students’ right to report freely. The Student Press Law Center powers this movement by convening coalitions, educating lawmakers, sharing model policies and equipping students with the training and confidence they need to stand up for press freedom. Learn more about how you can take action to restore and protect student press freedom in your state.