91st Annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music

    NEW YORK, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The 91st annual Pulitzer Prizes in
 Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music, awarded on the recommendation of the
 Pulitzer Prize Board, were announced today by Columbia University.
     The winners in each category, along with the names of the finalists in
 the competition, follow:
     A.  PRIZES IN JOURNALISM
 
     1.  PUBLIC SERVICE
     For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a
 newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources which, as well as
 reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics and
 online material, a gold medal.
     Awarded to The Wall Street Journal for its creative and comprehensive
 probe into backdated stock options for business executives that triggered
 investigations, the ouster of top officials and widespread change in
 corporate America.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Birmingham
 (Ala.) News for the work of Brett Blackledge that exposed cronyism and
 corruption in the state's two-year college system, resulting in the
 dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action (Moved by the Board
 to the Investigative Reporting category), and The Washington Post for its
 extensive examination of waste and abuse in the nation's farm subsidy
 system, prodding Congress to address the need for fundamental reform.
     2. BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news,
 presented in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to the Staff of The Oregonian, Portland, for its skillful and
 tenacious coverage of a family missing in the Oregon mountains, telling the
 tragic story both in print and online.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Staff of The
 Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., for its clear and authoritative reporting
 on the crash of a Comair commuter jet that killed 49 people, and The Denver
 Post Staff for its compelling and notably human coverage of back-to-back
 blizzards that trapped travelers and paralyzed the region.
     3. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual
 or team, presented as a single article or series, in print or in print and
 online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (Ala.) News for his
 exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system,
 resulting in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action.
 (Moved by the Board from the Public Service category.)
     Nominated as finalists in this category were: Ken Armstrong, Justin
 Mayo and Steve Miletich of The Seattle Times for their series that exposed
 how the improper sealing of hundreds of lawsuits hid information vital to
 public safety, and resulted in remedial judicial steps; Michael J. Berens,
 Julia Sommerfeld and Carol Ostrom of The Seattle Times for their probe of
 sexual misconduct by health-care professionals that included creation of an
 extensive online database of offenders and caused a tightening of state
 regulation; and Lisa Chedekel and Matthew Kauffman of The Hartford Courant
 for their in-depth reports on suicide among American soldiers in Iraq,
 leading to congressional and military action to address mental health
 problems raised in the stories.
     4. EXPLANATORY REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a
 significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject,
 lucid writing and clear presentation, in print or in print and online, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Kenneth R. Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis of the
 Los Angeles Times for their richly portrayed reports on the world's
 distressed oceans, telling the story in print and online, and stirring
 reaction among readers and officials.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Joanne Kimberlin and
 Bill Sizemore of The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, for their provocative
 examination of the United States' increasing reliance on private military
 personnel, and The New York Times Staff for its multi-faceted explanation
 of the growing menace of diabetes, especially among the poor and
 vulnerable, that elicited a range of public and private responses.
     5. LOCAL REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of local reporting that illuminates
 significant issues or concerns, in print or in print and online, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald for reports on waste,
 favoritism and lack of oversight at the Miami housing agency that resulted
 in dismissals, investigations and prosecutions.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Boston Globe
 Staff for its well documented exposure, in print and online, of
 unscrupulous debt collectors, causing two firms to close and prompting
 action by state officials, and Fred Schulte and June Arney of The Baltimore
 Sun for their reports, in print and online, about abuses under an archaic
 state law that threatened to turn hundreds out of their homes.
     6. NATIONAL REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, in print
 or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Charlie Savage of The Boston Globe for his revelations that
 President Bush often used "signing statements" to assert his controversial
 right to bypass provisions of new laws.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Maurice Possley and
 Steve Mills of the Chicago Tribune for their investigation of a 1989
 execution in Texas that strongly suggests an innocent man was killed by
 lethal injection, and Les Zaitz, Jeff Kosseff and Bryan Denson of The
 Oregonian, Portland, for their disclosure of mismanagement and other abuses
 in federally- subsidized programs for disabled workers, stirring
 congressional action.
     7. INTERNATIONAL REPORTING
     For a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, in
 print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to The Wall Street Journal Staff for its sharply edged reports
 on the adverse impact of China's booming capitalism on conditions ranging
 from inequality to pollution.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Los Angeles
 Times Staff for its courageous chronicling of Iraq's descent into what the
 newspaper labeled "civil war," and Anthony Shadid of The Washington Post
 for his vivid and insightful coverage of conflict in Lebanon that wove
 together frontline dispatches, personal history and analysis.
     8. FEATURE WRITING
     For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime
 consideration to quality of writing, originality and concision, in print or
 in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Andrea Elliott of The New York Times for her intimate,
 richly textured portrait of an immigrant imam striving to find his way and
 serve his faithful in America.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Christopher Goffard
 of the St. Petersburg Times for his fresh and compelling stories about a
 young public defender and his daily challenges, and Inara Verzemnieks of
 The Oregonian, Portland, for her witty and perceptive portfolio of features
 on an array of everyday topics.
     9. COMMENTARY
     For distinguished commentary, in print or in print and online, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her
 courageous, clear-headed columns that evince a strong sense of morality and
 persuasive knowledge of the community.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Ruth Marcus of The
 Washington Post for her intelligent and incisive commentary on a range of
 subjects, using a voice that can be serious or playful, and Joe Nocera of
 The New York Times for his piercing, authoritative columns on business,
 often spotlighting misdeeds and flaws in corporate culture.
     10. CRITICISM
     For distinguished criticism, in print or in print and online, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly for his zestful, wide ranging
 restaurant reviews, expressing the delight of an erudite eater.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Christopher Knight
 of the Los Angeles Times for his pieces on art that reflect meticulous
 reporting, aesthetic judgment and authoritative voice, and Mark Swed of the
 Los Angeles Times for his passionate music criticism, marked by resonant
 writing and an ability to give life to the people behind a performance.
     11. EDITORIAL WRITING
     For distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being
 clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence
 public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction, in
 print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to the Editorial Board of the New York Daily News for its
 compassionate and compelling editorials on behalf of Ground Zero workers
 whose health problems were neglected by the city and the nation.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Jane Healy of The
 Orlando Sentinel for her persuasive heavily reported editorials on
 development projects that imperiled Florida's wetlands and wildlife, and
 Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post for his eloquent, rigorously
 researched editorials on rising inequality in America.
     12. EDITORIAL CARTOONING
     For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during
 the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of
 drawing and pictorial effect, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand
 dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Walt Handelsman of Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., for his
 stark, sophisticated cartoons and his impressive use of zany animation.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Nick Anderson of The
 Houston Chronicle for his pungent cartoons on an array of issues, and for
 his bold use of animation, and Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press for
 his compelling cartoons that rely on rich detail and deft caricature to
 make their point and for using animation to widen his impact.
     13. BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
     For a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and
 white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a
 sequence or an album, in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars
 ($10,000).
     Awarded to Oded Balilty of The Associated Press for his powerful
 photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they
 remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Associated Press
 Staff for its breathtaking images of brutal warfare between Israel and
 Hezbollah, and Michael Bryant of The Philadelphia Inquirer for his poignant
 photographs of the devastating injury to Barbaro, the famed racehorse.
     14. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
     For a distinguished example of feature photography in black and white
 or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or
 an album, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to Renee C. Byer of The Sacramento Bee for her intimate
 portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with
 cancer.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Mary F. Calvert of
 The Washington Times for her haunting depiction of sub-Sahara African women
 afflicted with fistula after childbirth, and Gary Coronado of The Palm
 Beach Post for his vivid images of Central Americans who, desperate to
 enter America illegally, risk their lives leaping on Mexican freight trains
 rumbling northward.
     B.  LETTERS AND DRAMA PRIZES
 
     1.  FICTION
     For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing
 with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy (Alfred A. Knopf).
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "After This" by
 Alice McDermott (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), and "The Echo Maker" by
 Richard Powers (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
     2. DRAMA
     For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in
 its source and dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "Rabbit Hole" by David Lindsay-Abaire
     Nominated as finalists in this category were: "Orpheus X" by Rinde
 Eckert, "Bulrusher" by Eisa Davis, and "Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue" by
 Quiara Alegria Hudes.
     3. HISTORY
     For a distinguished book upon the history of the United States, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and
 the Awakening of a Nation" by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (Alfred A.
 Knopf).
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Middle Passages:
 African American Journeys to Africa, 1787-2005" by James T. Campbell (The
 Penguin Press), and "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War" by
 Nathaniel Philbrick (Viking).
     4. BIOGRAPHY
     For a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author,
 Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward
 Beecher" by Debby Applegate (Doubleday).
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "John Wilkes: The
 Scandalous Father of Civil Liberty" by Arthur H. Cash (Yale University
 Press), and "Andrew Carnegie" by David Nasaw (The Penguin Press).
     5. POETRY
     For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "Native Guard" by Natasha Trethewey (Houghton Mifflin).
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "The Republic of
 Poetry" by Martin Espada (W.W. Norton), and "Interrogation Palace: New &
 Selected Poems 1982-2004" by David Wojahn (University of Pittsburgh Press).
     6. GENERAL NONFICTION
     For a distinguished book of nonfiction by an American author that is
 not eligible for consideration in any other category, Ten thousand dollars
 ($10,000).
     Awarded to "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11" by
 Lawrence Wright (Alfred A. Knopf).
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Crazy: A Father's
 Search Through America's Mental Health Madness" by Pete Earley (G.P.
 Putnam's Sons), and "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq" by
 Thomas E. Ricks (The Penguin Press).
     C. PRIZE IN MUSIC
     For distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its
 first performance or recording in the United States during the year, Ten
 thousand dollars ($10,000).
     Awarded to "Sound Grammar" by Ornette Coleman, recording released
 September 12, 2006.
     Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Grendel" by Elliot
 Goldenthal, premiered June 8, 2006 by the Los Angeles Opera at the Dorothy
 Chandler Pavilion, libretto by Julie Taymor and J.D. McClatchy, and "Astral
 Canticle" by Augusta Read Thomas, premiered June 1, 2006 by the Chicago
 Symphony Orchestra (G. Schirmer, Inc.).
     SPECIAL CITATIONS
     A Special Citation to Ray Bradbury for his distinguished, prolific and
 deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and
 fantasy.
     and
     Posthumous Special Citation to composer John Coltrane for his masterful
 improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of
 jazz.
     SPECIAL RECOGNITION
     The 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography to Jahangir Razmi, an
 Iranian photographer, for his picture of a firing squad in Iran. (The
 picture was published anonymously around the world in 1979 but the identity
 of the photographer was unknown until revealed in December, 2006.)
     The Pulitzer Prize Board made its recommendations for the 2007 prizes
 when it met at Columbia on April 12 and 13 and passed them to President Lee
 C.
     Bollinger. It announced that the awards would be presented at a
 luncheon on May 21 at Columbia University.
     Thomas L. Friedman, Anders Gyllenhaal and Gregory L. Moore were
 re-elected to membership on the board.
     The members of the Pulitzer Prize Board are: President Bollinger;
 Danielle Allen, professor, Department of Classics and Political Science and
 the Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago; Jim Amoss, editor,
 The New Orleans Times-Picayune; Amanda Bennett, executive
 editor/enterprise, Bloomberg News; Joann Byrd, former editor of the
 editorial page, Seattle Post- Intelligencer; Kathleen Carroll, senior vice
 president and executive editor, Associated Press; Thomas L. Friedman,
 columnist, The New York Times; Donald E. Graham, chairman, The Washington
 Post; Anders Gyllenhaal, executive editor, The Miami Herald; Jay T. Harris,
 director, The Center for the Study of Journalism and Democracy, University
 of Southern California; David M. Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan professor of
 history, Stanford University; Nicholas Lemann, dean, Graduate School of
 Journalism, Columbia University; Ann Marie Lipinski, senior vice president
 and editor, Chicago Tribune; Gregory L. Moore, editor, The Denver Post;
 Richard Oppel, editor, Austin American-Statesman; Michael Pride, editor,
 Concord (N.H.) Monitor; Paul Steiger, managing editor, The Wall Street
 Journal (chair); Paul Tash, editor, CEO and chairman, St. Petersburg Times;
 and Sig Gissler, administrator of the Prizes.
     In any category in which board members have an interest due to the
 action of the various nominating juries, those members do not participate
 in the discussion and voting and leave the room until a decision is reached
 in the affected category. Similarly, members of nominating juries do not
 participate in the discussion of or voting on entries in which they have an
 interest.
     About Columbia University
     Founded in 1754 as King's College, Columbia University in the City of
 New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United
 States and today is one of the world's leading academic and research
 institutions. For more information about Columbia University, visit
 www.columbia.edu. For more on the Pulitzer Prizes, visit www.pulitzer.org.
 
 

SOURCE Columbia University