Pulitzer Center Letter Writing Contest 2023 for Kindergarten to 12th Grade [Cash Prizes & Publication]: Submit by Nov 12

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Online applications are invited for the Pulitzer Center Letter Writing Contest 2023. The deadline for submitting entries is November 12, 2023.

About Pulitzer Center

The Pulitzer Center is an innovative non-profit leader in supporting the independent international journalism that U.S. media organizations are increasingly less willing to undertake. The Center focuses on under-reported topics, promoting high-quality international reporting and creating platforms that reach broad and diverse audiences.

About the Contest

K-12 students: Make your voice heard this fall by writing a letter to a local elected representative that explains the global issue you want them to prioritize, shows how it connects to your local community, and proposes a solution.

Through this contest, students can practice global citizenship, civic action, and persuasive writing, all while exploring the underreported issues that matter to them through Pulitzer Center news stories. The Pulitzer Center wants to read and share your letters: tell us, and the world, what’s most important to you.

Eligibility Criteria

Entries are open to students worldwide, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12). Letters may be written in English and/or Spanish. Students will be judged separately in high school, middle school, and elementary categories, using the same judging rubric.

Prizes

They will select three first-place winners, including one high school entry (grades 9-12), one middle school entry (grades 6-8), and one elementary entry (grades K-5). First-place winners will receive:

$100 to support global community engagement in your classroom (prize distributed to your class teacher).
Publication of your letter, photo, and bio on the Pulitzer Center website.
Additional finalists will be selected across all grade levels. Finalists will receive:
- Publication of your letter, photo, and bio on the Pulitzer Center website.

How to Submit?

Interested candidates can submit their letters using this link.

Deadline

Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.

Submission Guidelines

Go here, or the Suggested Stories tab above, and choose a news story about a global issue that matters to you.
Write a one-page letter to an elected representative in your community that includes the following:
- Short summary of a global issue, citing a Pulitzer Center news story.
- Explanation of how this global issue connects to your local community, and/or to you personally.
- Suggestion of what action you would like your local representative to take to resolve this issue, or otherwise improve related conditions.
For support writing your letter, see the Resources for Teachers and Students here.
Use the form given above to enter the contest. It will request some basic personal and contact information; the name and contact information of one of your teachers; and you can copy/paste your letter directly into the form.
Your representatives’ contact information is available online. After submitting your letter to the Pulitzer Center, please consider mailing or emailing your letter to them directly!