The Pulitzer Prize

• What is the Pulitzer Prize?

• Where and when did it originate?

• In what categories is the prize awarded?

• Name some Pulitzer Prize winners. What did they get their Pulitzer for?

The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American (Hungarian-born) publisher Joseph Pulitzer in 1917 and is administered by Columbia University in New York City. Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer gave money in his will to Columbia University to launch a journalism school and establish the Prize. $250,000 was allocated to the prize and scholarships. He specified "four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one in education, and four traveling scholarships." After his death, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded June 4, 1917; they are now announced each April.

Over the years, awards have been discontinued either because the field of the award has been expanded to encompass other areas, the award been renamed because the common terminology changed, or the award has become obsolete. Nowadays Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of these, each winner receives a certificate and a US$10,000 cash award. The winner in the public service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal, which always goes to a newspaper, although an individual may be named in the citation.

Awards are made in categories relating to newspaper journalism, arts, and letters and fiction. Only published reports and photographs by United States-based newspapers or daily news organizations are eligible for the journalism prize. The current Pulitzer Prize category definitions in the 2008 competition, in the order they are awarded, are:

• Public Service – for a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources, which may include editorials, cartoons, and photographs, as well as reporting. Often thought of as the grand prize, the Public Service award is given to the newspaper, not to individuals, though individuals are often mentioned for their contributions.

• Breaking News Reporting – for a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news.

• Investigative Reporting – for a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single newspaper article or series.

• Explanatory Reporting – for a distinguished example of explanatory newspaper reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing, and clear presentation.

• Local Reporting – for a distinguished example of local newspaper reporting that illuminates significant issues or concerns.

• National Reporting – for a distinguished example of newspaper reporting on national affairs.

• International Reporting – for a distinguished example of newspaper reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence.

• Feature Writing – for a distinguished example of newspaper feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality.

• Commentary – for distinguished commentary.

• Criticism – for distinguished criticism.

• Editorial Writing – for distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clarity of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer perceives to be the right direction.

• 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.

• Breaking News Photography, previously called Spot 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.

• 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.

There are six categories in letters and drama:

• Fiction – for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life.

• Drama – for a distinguished play by an American playwright, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.

• History – for a distinguished book on the history of the United States.

• Biography or Autobiography – for a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author.

• Poetry – for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American poet.

• General Non-Fiction – for a distinguished book of non-fiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category.

There is one prize given for music:

• Pulitzer Prize for Music – for a distinguished musical contribution by an American that had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year.

There have also been a number of Special Citations and Awards.

In addition to the prizes, Pulitzer traveling fellowships are awarded to four outstanding students of the Graduate School of Journalism as selected by the faculty.

The greatest number of awards in the category of journalism gathered such large publications like New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. However many of awarded books has never belonged to the major bestseller or were never staged at the Broadway theater scene.  And many times the Commission noted small, little-known newspaper. 

The only citizen of Russia who won an award is the chief photographer of Moscow Associated Press Alexander Zemlyanichenko. He was twice awarded the prize for his photo reports from Russia in 1991 and 1996.

When we speak about well-known Pulitzer Prize winners I can mention, for example, Ernest Hemingway for his “The Old Man And The Sea” (1953 - "Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winners"). On April 16, 2007, Ray Bradbury received a special citation from The Pulitzer Board, "for his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy." In 1955 the book by John F. Kennedy (35 American President) “Profiles in Courage” was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. The book provides brief biographies of people who Kennedy believed were samples of courage in politics.