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Frequently Asked Questions
So is this poetry or journalism?
It’s both/and, not either/or.
Poets Reading the News is a platform for a new genre of writing. Our poems are fact-checked, subjectively honest and emotionally powerful. We call it journalism in verse. We have highlighted hundreds of stories from international poet-journalists with diverse perspectives on how it feels to live through the political, environmental, and cultural moment. Put simply: Poets Reading the News processes the machinations of a complex world.
We are proud to be trailblazers for this emergent genre, and were the first to build a dedicated space for it. Since we began, the genre has caught fire and poetry has entered the news stream – with readers, writers, editors and cultural producers discovering that poetry has a unique and vital role to play in enhancing and deepening the act of witnessing, understanding and processing current events.
Why?
It can help. It does help.
How do I get your newsletter?
You can sign up for our Substack newsletter right here.
Are the poets reacting to the news or reporting it?
Both. We’ve been really proud to feature some incredible original reporting. Take a look, for example, at Alan Pelaez Lopez’s reporting on the assassination of Carmela Parral Santos, a governor in Oaxaca who opposed deforestation – to date, it is still the only English-language news coverage of her death; Thriveni Mysore’s poetry about a lake that caught on fire in her town in India; Luna Reiley’s poetic review of a Frank Ocean album; or at the many first-person perspectives we publish on climate change, gun violence, and social movements, and the pieces focused on identity in this asymmetrical world.
I want to submit my poetry. What is the submissions process?
We look forward to reading your poetry! We are interested in original, innovative, and previously unpublished poetry by writers from around the world. We used to be open 365 days a year, but we’re a small team, and we now have open submission sessions. Our newsletter is the best place to learn about open calls; subscribe below. You can read our submission guidelines here.
How did this start?
Poets Reading the News came to life in the rich ground of Oakland’s poetry scene, where artists were confronting the ceaseless violence of mass shootings in America. Poetry was a rare form that offered solace and could break through the white noise of news reports about loss and tragedy. Though poetry had incredible power, there wasn’t a dedicated place to harness its creative potential in conversation with current events.
That’s when Elle, who had recently documented Thailand’s coup d’etat in poetic verse while living abroad, got the idea to build a newspaper from pure poetic fiber – one that kept pace with the news cycle while transcending its limitations. She approached a fellow poet, J, who was involved in Oakland’s local poetry open mic scene, to collaborate in starting something entirely different from what existed so far.
The project began as an old-fashioned writing campaign, with the editors contacting writers around the country and inviting them to contribute to a fledgling poetry project – a newspaper dedicated to journalism in verse, the only one of its kind. Poets Reading the News officially launched on September 16, 2016 at Babelab Gallery in Oakland’s Chinatown district.
The journal quickly grew a cult following in the poetry and journalism worlds alike. Readership grew exponentially while submissions soared, with thousands of writers sharing their writing on breaking news. Thus, the world’s first contemporary poetry newsroom was born. To date, Poets Reading the News has published over 1,000 poems by over 500 poets based in states around the U.S. and in over 25 countries.
Do you have openings for volunteer editors, designers or publishers?
Absolutely! Our Associate Poetry Editor cohort works closely with our senior editorial team to review and publish breaking poetry from our large volume of general submissions and offers a dynamic way to learn the ropes behind publishing. We also have space for folks who want to contribute to our social media, non-profit tasks, and grant-writing team. If you’re interested, write to us directly with some information about what you like to do, what you would love to learn, and why Poets Reading the News calls to you. Sign up for our newsletter to learn about our next open call for Associate Poetry Editors.
How can I support you?
Read a poem. Share it if you love it. Connect with us on social media – Facebook and Instagram. Tell your friends about us. Attend our events. And we love to hear from our readers, so don’t be afraid to send us a line!
We are entirely reader-supported – and it costs real money to make this dream a reality. That’s why the very best way to support Poets Reading the News is to make a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor or subscribe through our Patreon account.
What’s next?
Books. Innovative and creative events across the world. Incredible poetry. What’s not next?