New York Times honored for its iEconomy series of exposés of alleged unsavory practices by major corporations.
“CULT OF MAC” BY KILLIAN BELL • 7:21 AM, APRIL 16, 2013
The New York Times has won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for “Explanatory Reporting” for its nine‐part iEconomy series into Apple’s business practices and the working conditions inside Foxconn’s Chinese factories. (The series included articles on how American manufacturers lost out on iPhone work to cheaper factories in China as well as on the surprisingly meager pay of Apple’s 30,000 retail workers in the United States.)
The Times was praised for its “penetrating look into business practices by Apple and other technology companies that illustrates the darker side of a changing global economy for workers and consumers.”
Its iEconomy series gave us an insight into how Apple’s hugely popular iOS devices are manufactured in China, and the unpleasant working conditions faced by Foxconn staff. The series included nine parts in total, which you can catch up on below:
Part 1: How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work Part 2: In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad Part 3: How Apple Sidesteps Billions in Global Taxes Part 4: Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay Part 7: The Patent, Mighty as a Sword Part 8: As Boom Lures App Creators, Tough Part Is Making a Living Part 9: Signs of Changes Taking Hold in Electronics Factories in China
Some have accused The Times of picking on Apple simply because the company’s current stature makes it an easy and interesting target. “It didn’t matter that every major U.S. electronics company assembles its products under the same working conditions — or worse. Or that Apple was actually doing something about them.” writes Fortune’s Philip Elmer‐ DeWitt. “The fact is, the New York Times knows how to win Pulitzers — better than any other journalistic operation… And that’s what it set out to do — with Apple as its conspicuous subject.”
Nevertheless, the iEconomy series certainly seemed to give Apple’s efforts a bit of a boost; the company quite clearly stepped up its game and made Foxconn issues more of a priority after these reports were published.
Online: http://www.cultofmac.com/223654/the‐new‐york‐times‐wins‐pulitzer‐prize‐for‐ieconomy‐series‐on‐apple
David Streitfeld, Reporter, The New York Times William Randolph Hearst Foundation Professional Award For Excellence
Monday, March 13, 2017, faculty in the SJSU Journalism School will recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of Mr. David Streitfeld. He will receive the 2016 William Randolph Hearst Professional Journalism Award at a ceremony starting at 7:30 pm in the SJSU Student Union Ballroom. Faculty and students from our campus community, along with guests from Northern California high school and community college journalism and media programs, and Bay Area media professionals are invited to attend and interact with our special guest.
The goal of the William Hearst Endowment for Visiting Professionals is to bring distinguished speakers to campus as part of SJSU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Visiting Professionals program. The foundation encourages and supports the recognition of outstanding efforts which represents the best examples of media responsibility and commitment to public service as established in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
In 2013, Mr. Streitfeld was part of the team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting “for its penetrating look into business practices by Apple and other technology companies that illustrates the darker side of a changing global economy.” He won his first "Best in Business" award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for his investigation of fake online reviews, and his second for an in‐depth look (written with Jodi Kantor) at Amazon’s employment practices. The Amazon story drew more comments than any story in New York Times digital history.
Previously, David Streitfeld worked for the Los Angeles Times and, before that, the Washington Post. He has written for New York, Vogue, Wired and other magazines. He is also the editor of books about Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Philip K. Dick and J.D. Salinger. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.
Faculty in the SJSU School of Journalism and Mass Communications are proud to present Mr. Streitfeld this award, and to invite his views on a wide range of timely issues and concerns.
Mr. Streitfeld’s news organization, the New York Times, has been under attack by the Trump administration. When on campus he will take questions about how his newspaper and digital platform group are responding to the White House and President Trump.