A packed auditorium of student journalists listened Friday as Laura and Lisa Ling described their experiences with using journalism to give a voice to those who lack one.

As two out of only six Asians in their high school, the Ling sisters decided early on that they wanted to use journalism to explore the world.

“Our all-American cookie cutter community … made us want to get outside of our bubble,” said Lisa Ling, the older of the two sisters and co- executive producer and host of “Our America” on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She is also a field correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and contributor to ABC News’ “Nightline.”

The Ling sisters spoke to a standing-room only crowd of student journalists and teachers at the National Scholastic Press Association spring high school convention in Anaheim, Calif. The convention, which began Thursday, ends Sunday.

The sisters encouraged young journalists to explore the world and “expand our dialogue.” They urged their audience to change and move past what they described as America’s biased, inaccurate newscasting.

“I guarantee you that if you spend time outside of your country you will become more well-versed and marketable,” said WHO.

Lisa Ling described her experiences covering the drug wars in Mexico. “Violence is becoming so frequent that people are becoming immune to it,” she said. “Our freedom, our right to bear arms is fueling wars. There have been 25,000 murders.”

She talked about the importance of educating her readers. “Leaving (these) issues ignored can be detrimental to society,” she said.

Laura Ling, who made headlines in 2009 and 2010 after she was seized by North Korean authorities while on a reporting trip at the China-Korea border, talked about freedom lost and regained.

“I didn’t understand the luxury of freedom until I lost my own,” said Laura, now the host and reporter of “E Investigates,” a documentary series that has examined such subjects as teen suicide.

She described her capture as “the most terrifying moment of my life.” Sentenced by a court to 12 years of hard labor, 10 of them because of her work as a journalist, Laura found herself at “the darkest and loneliest place” she had ever experienced.

Laura Ling concluded the sisters’ message by urging the young journalists to “cherish the freedoms you have,” both as writers and as Americans.