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Pulitzer Center

Pulitzer Center

Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change

OpenWritingGlobal AffairsEssay Contest

About the Program

The Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change contest invites K-12 students worldwide to write a letter to a local elected representative or community leader connecting a global issue to their own community. The contest is run annually in the fall by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Topic categories:

  • Climate and Environment
  • Global Health
  • Human Rights
  • Information and Artificial Intelligence
  • Peace and Conflict

Prizes (per topic category):

  • 1st place: $300 + publication on the Pulitzer Center website and photo/bio feature
  • Finalists (up to 4 per category): $75 + publication

Entries are judged separately for elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The contest opens in fall each year, with submissions typically due in early November.

Eligibility

Open to all current K-12 students worldwide; write a letter to a local representative addressing a global issue in one of five topic categories; entries judged separately by grade level

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

Submit letter online via pulitzercenter.org; choose one of five focus areas; deadline typically early November annually