Twenty-five high school students from 15 states logged into the Student Press Law Center’s New Voices Student Leaders Institute this summer expecting to learn about press freedom, but they say they took away so much more. After two weeks of training and collaborating with their peers, they’re now equipped with the leadership skills, advocacy strategies and confidence to lead campaigns for press freedom in their states and communities.
Myesha Phukan, a 2023 institute alumna and now an SPLC advocacy intern, helped co-facilitate the 2026 institute. She shares her experiences working with students who are following in her advocacy footsteps.
Emma Alves is a junior at John Burroughs High School in California. She shares her experiences at the 2026 Institute and what comes next for her advocacy.
Sriram Chiripurapu 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 2026 Institute and what comes next for his advocacy.
Bowen Darling is a junior at Little Rock Central High School, where she is the social media editor on The Tiger newsmagazine staff. She shares her experiences at the 2026 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
Mira Thakkar is a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia, where she serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Lambert Post for the 2026-2027 school year. She shares her experiences at the 2026 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
A Student Press Law Center-led coalition today warned the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that student press freedom is at stake in its review of the University of Alabama’s decision to close two student magazines.
The Student Press Law Center is proud to announce that longtime media lawyer Melissa Bevan Melewsky will join the organization on Sept. 28 as its first legal director.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump Administration unconstitutionally used immigration law to silence the speech of international students, including within student media.
"We are disappointed you have failed to address our concerns and have not even attempted to work productively with us to improve the atmosphere for the student press at SIUE," a joint letter said.