New York Times Open Letters Opinion Writing Contest
New York Times invited students to write an open letter of protest or appeal to someone who has the power to address an issue they care about.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Students aged 13 to 19 around the world
Eligibility
Free
Entry fee
February 25 to April 8, 2026
Contest date
2 months after the contest has closed
Results and winners are notified
Competition Details
1. Introduction
Students are invited to write an open letter of protest or appeal to someone who has the power to address an issue they care about. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail and The New York Times’ Opinion section, the letter should target a specific audience but aim to influence the general public.
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 2 months after the deadline.
4. Prizes
Having your work published on The Learning Network.
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
- Writing Style: Informal and persuasive, but compelling to a broad audience.
- Length: 500 words or fewer, excluding title and sources.
- Sources: Include evidence from at least two sources—one from The Times and one external source.
2. Submission Details
- Originality: The letter must be original for this contest, not previously published.
- Artist’s Statement: Include a short, informal statement describing your writing and research process.
- Group Submissions: Students may submit individually or as a group, but each participant can only submit one entry.
- Submission Process: Entries are submitted electronically using a form provided by The New York Times.
