Former Fairbanks Daily News-Miner education reporter Weston Morrow is one of five winners of the 2025 National Poetry Series Open Competition.

The National Poetry Series is a literary awards program that sponsors the publication of five books of poetry each year. The manuscripts are selected by nationally-recognized poets and published by trade, university and small presses. The intent is to add to the number of poetry books published each year, to support poetry and poets and publishers.

“I actually never expected to become a poet,” said Morrow, who is now a senior lecturer at Ohio State University.

He said this week that it was inspiration from some Alaska writers during his time in Alaska, that led to his love of poetry.

“Back when I was working at the News-Miner, I was writing fict

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