Become a pundit
Melissa Oribhabor
Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: Forum
You've probably heard of "America's Next Top Model," where Tyra Banks is looking for a young, wide-eyed beauty to enter the world of high fashion … but "America's Next Great Pundit"?
That is correct.
A contest is being held in Washington, D.C. for ambitious minds looking to analyze and comment on the world around them but, luckily, Banks has nothing to do with it.
The contest is hosted by The Washington Post, and the D.C.-based newspaper is actively searching all 50 states to give one lucky person the opportunity to write a weekly column for the paper.
If you fancy yourself a future Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly, you can finally get paid for all of those opinions you've been screaming at your television while watching the evening news.
Potential candidates will need to fill out an entry form, write a 400-word opinion on a current event and write a 100-word essay about themself to explain why they feel they should win and are the best candidate for the job.
The judges will not determine a winner based on the angle of the article or whether The Post editors agree with the writer's point of view.
The winner will be chosen based on the writing style, the intelligence of the piece and its originality.
This is a great opportunity and can be a launching pad for a career in journalism and/or punditry.
The paper will choose 10 finalists who will compete head-to-head for the grand prize and the bragging right to say they work for one of the top newspapers in the country.
The Washington Post will pay the winner $200 per column for 13 weeks, which is $2,600 total just for sharing views on the world and answering reader questions.
And the best part is the winner will not have to relocate or change careers.
All articles will be submitted through e-mail from the comfort of one's own coffee table.
The entry deadline is quickly approaching and all entries are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern standard time Oct. 21.
So if you are interested, start writing now before your future Pulitzer Prize goes to someone else.
For a complete list of contest rules and to obtain an entry form, please visit www.washingtonpost.com.
moribhabor@unews.com
That is correct.
A contest is being held in Washington, D.C. for ambitious minds looking to analyze and comment on the world around them but, luckily, Banks has nothing to do with it.
The contest is hosted by The Washington Post, and the D.C.-based newspaper is actively searching all 50 states to give one lucky person the opportunity to write a weekly column for the paper.
If you fancy yourself a future Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly, you can finally get paid for all of those opinions you've been screaming at your television while watching the evening news.
Potential candidates will need to fill out an entry form, write a 400-word opinion on a current event and write a 100-word essay about themself to explain why they feel they should win and are the best candidate for the job.
The judges will not determine a winner based on the angle of the article or whether The Post editors agree with the writer's point of view.
The winner will be chosen based on the writing style, the intelligence of the piece and its originality.
This is a great opportunity and can be a launching pad for a career in journalism and/or punditry.
The paper will choose 10 finalists who will compete head-to-head for the grand prize and the bragging right to say they work for one of the top newspapers in the country.
The Washington Post will pay the winner $200 per column for 13 weeks, which is $2,600 total just for sharing views on the world and answering reader questions.
And the best part is the winner will not have to relocate or change careers.
All articles will be submitted through e-mail from the comfort of one's own coffee table.
The entry deadline is quickly approaching and all entries are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern standard time Oct. 21.
So if you are interested, start writing now before your future Pulitzer Prize goes to someone else.
For a complete list of contest rules and to obtain an entry form, please visit www.washingtonpost.com.
moribhabor@unews.com
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