Pulitzer Center Center Writing Contest 2026

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About Pulitzer Center Center Writing Contest

The Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change writing contest gives K–12 students an opportunity to connect global issues with challenges affecting their own communities.The contest encourages students to develop global citizenship, civic engagement, research, persuasive writing, and problem-solving skills. Participants research a global issue using Pulitzer Center-supported journalism and other credible sources, then write a letter to a local decisionmaker explaining the issue and recommending a practical solution.

• Sponsor Organisation: Pulitzer Center

Benefits of Pulitzer Center Center Writing Contest

They will select one first place winner and up to four finalists for each issue category. First place winners will receive:

• $300 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

Finalists will receive:

• $75 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

All entrants will be invited to participate in a Pulitzer Center town hall event, held virtually in November, to share their solutions with other students from around the world.

Pulitzer Center Center Writing Contest Requirements

They welcome entries from all current K-12 students across the globe. Letters may be written in English and/or Spanish. Letters should address a topic within one of the Pulitzer Center’s five focus issues:

• Climate and Environment (Includes climate change, pollution, extractive industries, and more)
• Global Health (Includes health inequities, food security, mental health, water and sanitation, and more)
• Human Rights (Includes racial justice, gender equality, migration and refugees, Indigenous rights, and more)
• Information and Artificial Intelligence (Includes technology and society, misinformation, and more)
• Peace and Conflict (Includes war, conflict, and peacebuilding efforts)

Application Date and Process

1. Go to the Suggested Stories tab above and choose a story that gives you new information about an issue that matters to you. (All eligible stories are available at www.pulitzercenter.org/stories.)

2. Write a one-page letter to a local decisionmaker that answers the following questions:

• What issue do you want the local decisionmaker to address?
• Why is this issue important globally? (Remember to cite evidence from the Pulitzer Center-supported story! You are encouraged to cite additional sources throughout your letter, too.)
• Why is this issue important to your local community, and/or to you personally?
• Why are you writing to this person? What power and/or responsibility do they have?
• What do you want this person to do? Offer a solution, and cite evidence that your solution will be effective.

You do not have to answer the questions in this order, but your letter should answer all five questions. For support writing your letter, use this graphic organizer, or see the Resources for Teachers and Students tab above.

3. Submit your letter using the contest entry form. It will request some basic personal and contact information; the name and contact information for one of your teachers; and you can copy/paste your letter directly into the form.

4. After submitting your letter to the Pulitzer Center, please consider mailing or emailing your letter to the decisionmaker directly.

Application Deadline

01 November, 2026

Opportunity Application

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