FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Melanie A. Farmer, 212-854-9082, [email protected] Natalie Hodgson, 212-854-6650, [email protected] 91st Annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music NEW YORK, April 16, 2007—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. -more- 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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 Arthur Browne, BeverlyWeintraub and Heidi Evans of the New York Daily News for their 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.