Poets Reading the News is the groundbreaking 501(c)3 literary organization for original poetry about current events. Founded in Oakland, California in 2016, our publication provides breaking poetic-journalism coverage on a diverse range of critical contemporary issues - from gun violence to politics, technology to climate change, and international affairs. We host workshops, readings and events in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Subscribe to our Substack to learn about open calls and read the latest poetry.
+ + +
Welcome to the Poets Reading the News open call for poetry about current events.
Before you submit, please review our full submission guidelines.
One submission may be under review at a time; each submission can include up to three (3) poems.
We are committed to featuring essential voices that have been underrepresented throughout journalistic and poetic history. We particularly encourage writers of color, women writers, LGBTQI+ writers, emergent writers, low-income/no-income writers, and/or writers near and far to submit their writing.
We ask that you help sustain Poets Reading the News if you are able by paying a modest submission fee to offset our Submittable costs. If this is a barrier, please use our no-cost poetry submission form here.
Thank you so much for sharing your writing with us. We look forward to reading your poetry!
+ + +
Poets Reading the News is the groundbreaking news publication for original poetry about current events. Our purpose is to enact poetry’s vital cultural function as a processor for violence, cultural complexity, and political change. We provide breaking poetry coverage on a diverse range of critical contemporary issues, including gun violence, politics, technology and climate change and are home to Pulitzer Prize winners, national poet laureates, and emergent writers.