By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Pulitzer Center is inviting secondary-school students to participate in its Fighting Words Poetry Contest, an opportunity to use poetry as a powerful response to global and local issues
Contestants are expected to craft poems that explore:
- How can poetry be an effective response to current events and the issues impacting their communities?
- How can journalism and poetry help them make connections between global issues and their local and personal contexts?
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to all K-12 students worldwide (including SS3 students in Nigeria).
- Poems can be written in any language, with multilingual submissions encouraged.
- Judges will have reading fluency in English and Spanish.
Submissions will be assessed based on:
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The poem’s effectiveness in terms of craft, style, and emotional impact.
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Use of poetic devices (e.g., repetition, imagery, metaphor) to achieve a specific effect.
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Integration of quoted lines from a Pulitzer Center story and engagement with its themes.
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The extent to which the poem amplifies an underreported story.
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Thoughtful perspective and respectful treatment of subject matter.
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Funding Information
1st place: $300, publication on the Pulitzer Center website
2nd place: $200, publication on the Pulitzer Center website
3rd place: $100, publication on the Pulitzer Center website
Finalists: $75, publication on the Pulitzer Center website
Application Requirements
- Participants must submit both audio and video recordings of their poem.
- A teacher or educational contact must be provided for all entries. If a student is not enrolled in a formal school, a guardian can be listed instead.
How to Apply
Interested students can apply through the following link:
The Pulitzer Center is hosting the Fighting Words Poetry Contest for secondary-school students worldwide, encouraging them to address global and local issues through poetry. Contestants are challenged to explore the role of poetry in responding to current events and the intersection between journalism and poetry in connecting global issues to personal experiences. The competition is open to K-12 students, and submissions can be in any language, with English and Spanish proficiency among judges.
Submissions will be judged on several criteria, including emotional impact, use of poetic devices, integration of themes from Pulitzer Center stories, and the amplification of underreported issues. Prizes include $300 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third, and $75 for finalists, all with publication on the Pulitzer Center website. Participants must submit audio and video recordings of their poems, with a teacher or guardian's details provided for entries. Interested students can apply via the Pulitzer Center's website.
