New York Times Student Editorial Contest
The New York Times Learning Network Student Editorial Contest
Write a 450-word evidence-based opinion piece on anything you care about, judged by Times editors.
Run by The New York Times Learning Network
Key facts
- Eligible grades
-
Not confirmed. Check the organiser's rules before entering.The Learning Network sets eligibility by age and school level, not grade.
- Eligible ages
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Not confirmed. This organiser may set eligibility by grade rather than age. We do not convert one into the other.No New York Times Learning Network page was reachable for this check, so everything here is from secondary sources and should be confirmed. They consistently describe ages 13 to 19 at the time of submission, enrolled in middle or high school anywhere in the world. Students 19 or under who have finished high school but are not enrolled in college, including gap-year students, are described as eligible, as are first-year students of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec. College students are not eligible except high schoolers taking college classes.
- Individual or team
- Individual or team · Not confirmed
- Where it runs
- Online · International
- Entry cost
- FreeReported as free. Learning Network contests are consistently described as free to enter.
- Registration deadline
- Set locally, not published as a single national date 2026-27 dates not confirmed first-party. The contest has historically opened in March and closed in mid-to-late April, with results about two months after close. The Times announced a 2026-27 contest lineup with some formats revamped, so do not assume last year's structure.
- Competition dates
- An annual window of several weeks, historically in the spring, with winners published a couple of months later.
- Difficulty
- Some preparation neededYou will want a few weeks of targeted practice. Most motivated students place respectably.
- Prizes
- Publication on the New York Times Learning NetworkThere is no cash award. Winning entries are published on The Learning Network and are described as eligible for publication in the print New York Times. Recognition tiers are winners, runners-up and honorable mentions.
What New York Times Student Editorial Contest is
The Student Editorial Contest asks teenagers to write a persuasive editorial of no more than 450 words on any issue they choose, supported by evidence from at least one New York Times source and one source from outside the Times. It is free, entirely online, and the extremely short word limit makes it one of the most approachable serious writing competitions available. Winning editorials are published on the Learning Network site.
How the competition works
You choose your own topic, write an editorial of at most 450 words, and cite at least one Times source and one non-Times source. Submission is through an online form during the contest window. Times editors and educators judge the entries, and winners, runners-up and honourable mentions are published.
Eligibility notes
Open to students worldwide aged 13 to 19 who are in middle or high school. Students whose parents work for The New York Times are excluded.
How to register
- Check the Learning Network contest calendar for the current window.
- Pick an issue you actually have a view about. Judges see thousands of editorials on the obvious topics.
- Write at most 450 words, citing at least one New York Times source and at least one source from outside the Times.
- Submit through the online form before the window closes.
What skills you need
- Persuasive writing
- Extreme concision
- Using evidence
- Finding an original angle
- Editing
Recommended resources
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New York Times Learning Network (also: past winning editorials)
The contest calendar, rules and published winning entries for all Learning Network contests. Published free each year, and the clearest guide to what wins.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- Winning entries archive
The Learning Network publishes winners, runners-up and honourable mentions for every contest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a New York Times subscription?
The Learning Network makes the material used in its contests freely accessible, and school and library access is widely available. Check the current contest rules for exactly which sources are usable.
Can students outside the United States enter?
Yes. The contest is open to students worldwide aged 13 to 19 in middle or high school.
Is there a cash prize?
No. The prize is publication on the Learning Network, which is a real byline and a credit that carries weight for students interested in journalism.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
Posts are public. Do not share your full name, school, address or contact details.
Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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