Call: Words for Rights Journalism Contest

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Objective

The Words for Rights Journalism Contest seeks to honor and support journalists and creators across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) who are producing impactful and courageous work on reproductive rights. We are looking for submissions that promote the right to abortion, challenge restrictive laws, or expose opposition to reproductive health access, using an evidence-based approach.

The contest recognizes the vital role journalists play in shaping public discourse and advancing human rights. We invite you to submit your most compelling articles and campaigns published or active between September 1, 2025, and February 23, 2026.

Who is it for, and what is the thematic focus?

The contest evaluates how submissions address reproductive rights, with a particular focus on abortion as a cross-cutting theme. Works must present transformative narratives that go beyond traditional frameworks and may interweave abortion with other struggles and social causes in a multidisciplinary, multicausal, and comprehensive way. Submissions countering misinformation and anti–sexual and reproductive rights narratives are especially encouraged.

This call is aimed at journalists, creators, and media professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly those producing high-impact work on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially related to abortion and reproductive rights.

Eligible profiles include:

• Traditional media journalism: reporters, editors, or producers working in traditional news outlets.
   
• Digital content creators: bloggers, influencers, and others producing content for social media platforms.
   

Contest Categories

Submissions will be evaluated across three categories, each with its own award.

1. Journalistic Production

This category recognizes journalistic pieces demonstrating narrative excellence and impact in traditional or digital media. It accepts text, multimedia, or video formats and rewards in-depth reporting on current issues, social challenges, or innovative solutions.
 Includes:

• Feature articles
• Investigative reports
• Field reporting
• Article or story series
   

2. Audiovisual Documentaries

This category recognizes storytelling through audiovisual formats that explore real stories with journalistic and narrative depth. It accepts video and audio submissions.
 Includes:

• Short or feature-length documentaries
• Video reports or web documentaries
• Documentary podcast
   

3. Social Media

This category celebrates creative and impactful journalistic or advocacy content developed for social media platforms. It accepts video or static-image submissions.
 Includes:

• Coordinated social media campaigns
• Video series or storytelling designed for platforms such as Instagram, X, TikTok, or Facebook
   

Evaluation Criteria

An independent panel of journalists and human rights defenders from Latin America and the Caribbean will evaluate submissions based on:

• Resonance and Reach: the work’s ability to stand out, connect with a broad audience, and demonstrate impact, supported by analytics such as unique visitors, shares, likes, comments, and estimated audience size.
   
• Journalistic integrity, excellence, care, and ethics: commitment to accuracy, rigorous research, clarity, ethical standards, and respectful engagement with communities.
   
• Creative vision: originality, innovative media use, and fresh perspectives on longstanding issues.
   
• Clarity of purpose: effectiveness in communicating a clear and compelling message about reproductive rights or opposition to them.
   
• Human-centered narrative: powerful storytelling that highlights personal experiences and the human impact of reproductive rights policies.
   
• Thematic focus: transformative narratives centered on reproductive rights, especially abortion, from multidisciplinary and comprehensive perspectives; works addressing misinformation and anti-rights narratives are encouraged.
   
• Inclusion and diversity: meaningful representation of diverse communities, intercultural approaches, avoidance of tokenism, intersectional perspectives, and team diversity, particularly involving women and other underrepresented voices.
   

Prizes

The contest will award four cash prizes to support the ongoing work of journalists and creators, one per category:

• Journalistic Production: USD 4,000
   
• Audiovisual Documentary: USD 4,000
   
• Social Media: USD 4,000
   

Eligibility and Submission Details

• Submissions must have been published or carried out between September 1, 2025, and February 23, 2026.
   
• Works must be created by journalists, collectives, or content creators from a Latin American or Caribbean country.
   
• Submissions may be in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
   
• Multiple entries per person or team are allowed.
• Staff from IPPF Secretariat, Member Associations, Collaborative Partners, and affiliates are not eligible to apply. 
   
• All submissions must include a brief summary (up to 1,000 words) explaining the purpose, impact, reach, and demonstrated audience engagement.

How to Participate

1. Submit your entry.
 Complete the submission form (English, Spanish, Portuguese) by February 23, 2026. All fields must be accurately completed. Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated. 

2. Selection process.
 Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the panel throughout February 2026.