Eiman Mir editor-in-chief of the Spartan Banner was awarded 2024 Wisconsin Journalist of the Year by the Wisconsin Journalism Education Association.

The Wisconsin Journalism Education Association recently named Brookfield East High School senior Eiman Mir their 2024 Wisconsin Journalist of the Year. The award recognizes Mir for her outstanding commitments to diversity, community engagement and leadership through her work for her school’s newspaper, Spartan Banner. Wisconsin Journalism Education Association (WisJEA) is an organization supporting state scholastic journalism programs and fostering professional connections for young journalists in Wisconsin.

“We are proud to honor Eiman Mir as the 2024 Wisconsin Journalist of the Year. Eiman’s passion, leadership and dedication to journalism set a high standard for student journalists across the state,” WisJEA President Matthew Smith said. “We look forward to witnessing Eiman’s continued success and impact on the field of journalism.”

For her achievement, Eiman Mir received a $1,000 scholarship made possible by the MPC Endowment of the Milwaukee Press Club. Her submission subsequently entered the National High School Journalist of the Year Competition, where young writers across the country compete for a $3,000 scholarship. 

“I’m really grateful for this recognition,” Mir reflects. “It motivates me to continue voicing what’s important to me through my writing.”

Mir has been involved in journalism since middle school, partaking in broadcast journalism with the school’s news network. From there, Mir joined the school newspaper team in her freshman year of high school. She gravitated towards journalism for the component of bringing different perspectives and sources together. 

“That’s what really stood out to me and got me to continue,” Mir adds.

Eiman Mir (far left) Brookfield East HS senior, was acknowledged for her outstanding commitments to diversity, community engagement and leadership at her school’s newspaper.

As editor-in-chief and social media manager of the Spartan Banner website, Mir revamped the publication’s online presence in addition to contributing and publishing articles. In a notable example of her remarkable leadership, she came to a local middle school and spoke to students about the importance of journalism and storytelling. She also led a summer writing workshop and incorporated her graphic design skills into stories and social media, building an extensive portfolio with her time at Spartan Banner.

Mir is passionate about stories centering underrepresented and marginalized communities. In 2023 she wrote a feature about Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month and the need to include AANHPI history into Act 31.

“That piece did really well,” Mir mentions. “I want to highlight things that people may not normally think about, like what different students’ experiences look like.”

Other Spartan Banner articles Mir has covered range from Brookfield East teachers sharing their “Spotify Wrapped” to the origins of February’s “E-Day” to co-writing with Janavi Wagle her most recent piece – interviewing Medical College of Wisconsin assistant professor Dr. Maves about Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Mir’s work has received national syndication as well; last August, Los Angeles Times published her piece honoring late Pakistani pop art and activist Nazia Hassan. She has also written public health-related articles and conducted interviews for Medium by way of an organization she co-founded with Akshara Vaddi, Health Education Advocates.

Locally, Milwaukee’s NPR program Lake Effect interviewed Mir in April and she has been featured in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Eiman Mir is currently deciding between colleges to attend this fall. She plans to enter a pre-medical program in college, focusing on public health. Although Mir does not intend to pursue journalism professionally, she hopes to continue writing on the side, saying,  “I like the idea of not just reporting on public health but also being able to help shape those stories myself.”

Concluding with a word of encouragement for young journalists, Mir remarks, 

“Whether you like writing movie reviews or about sports, there’s something for everyone, and that’s another reason why I love journalism. It’s what you make of it.”