Amplifying the human condition through the creative intersection of words, emotion, and information.
Where the emotive force of poetry and the informative power of journalism converge
The Institute for Poetjournalism is the global advocate and resource for poetjournalism and poetjournalists. The Institute was founded in 2024 by MacArthur Fellow Aaron Dworkin, who originated the term poetjournalism, which is defined as "the research, creation, and distribution of writing that evokes an emotional connection to news-related subjects or other relevant ideas utilizing elements of sound, meter, rhythm and creative illustration."
The Institute aims to evoke a profound emotional connection to current events and relevant ideas, making the news experience informative, enlightening, and deeply human. We seek to revolutionize the way stories are told by infusing the time-honored tradition of storytelling with the urgency and veracity of modern journalism. We aim to deliver news and ideas that resonate on a deeper emotional level, making consuming information a more impactful and memorable experience.
The Institute has two main program areas, including the Dworkin Prize for Poetjournalism and Verse News Network.
The Dworkin Prize
The Dworkin Prize, organized under the auspices of the Institute for Poetjournalism, stands as the pinnacle of international recognition of artistic and journalistic excellence, celebrating the confluence of poetry and journalism. With a generous 1st Place Laureate award of $150,000, it is the world's largest prize in poetry or journalism. The mission of The Dworkin Prize is twofold: to identify and celebrate the world's leading poetjournalists, and to advocate for the integration of poetjournalism in media outlets, emphasizing the importance of an emotional connection in the comprehension of news.
Verse News Network
Verse News Network (VNN) is a groundbreaking initiative by the Institute for Poetjournalism that stands as a pioneering force in non-partisan news dissemination. VNN serves as the preeminent global hub for poetjournalistic work (newspoems) and harnesses the talents of hundreds of poetjournalists. VNN fosters a unique approach to news reporting that combines the richness of poetry with the informative clarity of journalism. VNN is at the forefront of reimagining how news is crafted and conveyed.
“Poetjournalism’s palette of words paints vivid and thoughtful descriptions connecting the reader to our humanity.”
— Jane Chu, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, artist, musician