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Text 1. About the Pulitzer Prize

Topic 1. The Pulitzer Prize in Journalism

The Pulitzer Prize /’pʊlitsər/ is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper publisher, who left money to Columbia University in New York City upon his death in 1911. A portion of his bequest was used to found the School of Journalism in 1912 and establish the Pulitzer Prizes, which were first awarded in 1917.

Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of these, each winner receives a certificate and a $10,000 cash award. The winner in the public service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal.

Each year, 103 judges are selected to "serve on 20 separate juries" for the 21 award categories. The 20-member board is composed mainly of leading journalists or news executives from media outlets across the U.S., as well as six academics or persons in the arts. The president of Columbia University and the dean and administrator of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism are nonvoting members.

Members of the board and the juries are selected with close attention "given to professional excellence, as well as diversity in terms of gender, ethnic background, geographical distribution and size of newspaper." Each year, the chair rotates to the most senior member. The board makes all prize decisions.

For each award category, a jury makes three nominations. The board selects the winner by majority vote from the nominations. The board can also vote no award.

Anyone whose work has been submitted is called an "entrant". The jury selects a small group of "nominated finalists" and announces them together with the winner for each category. However, journalists who were only submitted, but not nominated as finalists still claim to be Pulitzer nominees in their promotional material.

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. In December 2008 it was announced that for the first time content published in online-only news sources would be considered.

The current Pulitzer Prize categories in the order they are awarded, are:

· Public Service – for a distinguished example of 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, clear writing and 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 – 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, 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.

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