New York Times Open Letters Contest
New York Times invited students to write an open letter to a specific
audience or groups about issues that matter to them for a chance to be published on the Learning Network.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Students ages 13 to 19 around the world
Eligibility
Free
Entry fee
March 13 to May 1, 2024
Contest date
2 months after the contest has closed
Results and winners are notified
Competition Details
1. Introduction
The New York Times’ 2024 Student Editorial Contest invites students aged 13 to 19 worldwide to write open letters addressing issues they care about. The competition, which runs from March 13 to May 1, 2024, encourages students to identify a problem, address someone who can make a change, and persuade both their target and the broader public to care about the issue.
2. Eligibility
Participants must be middle or high school students aged 13 to 19. College students are not eligible, but those in a gap year or in their first year of a two-year CEGEP program in Quebec can participate. Children of New York Times employees cannot enter.
3. Results
Winners are selected based on their ability to highlight important issues, persuade their audience, and use reliable evidence. Results are announced 8-10 weeks after the submission deadline, typically in June or July..
4. Prizes
Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to have your work published in the print New York Times.
How Will Your Work Be Judged?
Open letter calls attention to an issue orproblem and prompts reflection or action on it.
Open letter directly addresses a specific individual , group, organization or institution appropriate to the issue, but also is written to be read by a public general audience.
Open letter convincingly makes a case for why the recipient and public should care about or take action on the issue.It provides relevant background information, valid examples and reliable evidence to support the argument all in a clear and organized fashion
It has a strong voice and uses language, style, and tone appropriate to its purpose and audience. It features correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Submission follows all contest guidelines, including the citation of at least one Times and one non-Times source.
Submission Details
1. Essay Guidelines
- Topic: Write an open letter to someone specific, urging them to act on an issue.
- Length: Maximum of 460 words (excluding title and sources).
- Sources: Use evidence from at least two sources, including one from The Times.
- Originality: The work must be original and unpublished, with no use of AI tools.
