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Riya Misra ’25 is writing a new story for Rice’s up-and-coming journalists

Riya Misra ’25 was a junior in high school when she took a campus tour of Rice and picked up a copy of the Thresher for the first time. “There was an article on journalism abroad,” she explained. “I read it and thought it was such lovely writing.” That moment stuck with her, shaping her view of student journalism and the role it plays in campus life.

This year, Riya served her second year as the Thresher’s editor-in-chief and continued her predecessors’ work of molding the paper into a powerful tool for her fellow students. “Something that’s always been on my radar is that Rice doesn’t have a journalism program, so that’s shaped what I want the Thresher to be. It’s not just a great space for writers and editors, but a learning space for anyone interested in learning the skills journalism provides, like public relations, communications or grant writing skills,” she said. “I’ve also worked to develop good relationships with working journalists so we can build a talent pipeline between us and Texas news outlets.”

The Thresher taught Riya a myriad of lessons, including the value of student-led journalism. “Student-led media is local media,” she said. “As editor-in-chief, my philosophy is that we’ll always meet our audience, which is primarily Rice students, where they stand. It’s by students, for students — you really need to be part of a community to report on it authentically.”

Riya’s tenure at the Thresher gave her plenty of skills, experiences and fond memories to take with her beyond the hedges. “I’ve gotten to do so many cool things,” she reminisced. “But the best memories are from working late on Tuesday nights when everyone is trying to meet their deadlines. It’s those little moments where you really get to bond with your team.”

As editor-in-chief, Riya saw first-hand how philanthropy strengthens student organizations like the Thresher. Thanks to the Crystal D. Davis and Bev D. Blackwood II Endowment, staff members have attended leadership retreats and college media conferences, sharpening their journalistic skills and expanding their professional networks.

But the impact doesn’t stop there. “There are so many different avenues,” Riya said. “During the pandemic, the paper shrank from 16 pages to eight. We’re back to 12 now, but with more funding, we could return to 16 — and maybe,” she added with a laugh, “we could even get a new couch.”

Thanks to Riya’s leadership, the Thresher is a space where aspiring writers, reporters and communicators can learn, grow and hone their craft. She knows this wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Rice community. “We create this paper every week out of love for Rice, and it means the world when that sentiment is returned — whether that’s through a donation or simply picking up a copy. I so appreciate that there are donors who resonate with our vision.”