Pulitzer Prize for Commentary

The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.

List of winners and their official citations

* 2008: Steven Pearlstein of "The Washington Post", "for his insightful columns that explore the nation's complex economic ills with masterful clarity."
* 2007: 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."
* 2006: Nicholas Kristof of "New York Times", "for his graphic, deeply reported columns that, at personal risk, focused attention on genocide in Darfur and that gave voice to the voiceless in other parts of the world."
* 2005: Connie Schultz of "Plain Dealer", Cleveland, "for her pungent columns that provided a voice for the underdog and underprivileged."
* 2004: Leonard Pitts, "Miami Herald", "for his fresh, vibrant columns that spoke, with both passion and compassion, to ordinary people on often divisive issues."
* 2003: Colbert I. King, "Washington Post", "for his against-the-grain columns that speak to people in power with ferocity and wisdom."
* 2002: Thomas Friedman, "New York Times", "for his clarity of vision, based on extensive reporting, in commenting on the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat."
* 2001: Dorothy Rabinowitz, "Wall Street Journal", "for her articles on American society and culture."
* 2000: Paul A. Gigot, "Wall Street Journal", "for his informative and insightful columns on politics and government."
* 1999: Maureen Dowd, "New York Times", "for her fresh and insightful columns on the impact of President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky."
* 1998: Mike McAlary, "New York Daily News", "for reporting on the brutalization of a Haitian immigrant by police officers at a Brooklyn stationhouse."
* 1997: Eileen McNamara, "Boston Globe", "for her many-sided columns on Massachusetts people and issues."
* 1996: E.R. Shipp, "New York Daily News", for her penetrating columns on race, welfare and other social issues.
* 1995: Jim Dwyer, "Newsday, Long Island, N.Y.", for his compelling and compassionate columns about New York City.
* 1994: William Raspberry, "Washington Post", "for his compelling commentaries on a variety of social and political topics."
* 1993: Liz Balmaseda, "Miami Herald", "for her commentary from Haiti about deteriorating political and social conditions and her columns about Cuban-Americans in Miami."
* 1992: Anna Quindlen, "New York Times", "for her compelling columns on a wide range of personal and political topics."
* 1991: Jim Hoagland, "Washington Post", "for searching and prescient columns on events leading up to the Gulf War and on the political problems of Mikhail Gorbachev."
* 1990: Jim Murray, "Los Angeles Times", "for his sports columns."
* 1989: Clarence Page, "Chicago Tribune", "for his provocative columns on local and national affairs."
* 1988: Dave Barry, "Miami Herald", "for his consistently effective use of humor as a device for presenting fresh insights into serious concerns."
* 1987: Charles Krauthammer, "Washington Post Writers Group", "for his witty and insightful columns on national issues."
* 1986: Jimmy Breslin, "New York Daily News", "for columns which consistently champion ordinary citizens."
* 1985: Murray Kempton, "Newsday, Long Island, N.Y.", "for witty and insightful reflection on public issues in 1984 and throughout a distinguished career."
* 1984: Vermont C. Royster, "Wall Street Journal",
* 1983: Claude Sitton, "Raleigh (N. C.) News & Observer",
* 1982: Art Buchwald, "Los Angeles Times Syndicate"
* 1981: Dave Anderson, "New York Times", "for his commentary on sports."
* 1980: Ellen H. Goodman, "Boston Globe"
* 1979: Russell Baker, "New York Times"
* 1978: William Safire, "New York Times", "for commentary on the Bert Lance affair.
* 1977: George F. Will, "Washington Post Writers Group", for distinguished commentary on a variety of topics."
* 1976: Walter Wellesley (Red) Smith, "New York Times", "for his commentary on sports in 1975 and for many other years."
* 1975: Mary McGrory, "Washington Star", "for her commentary on public affairs during 1974."
* 1974: Edwin A. Roberts Jr., "National Observer", "for his commentary on public affairs during 1973."
* 1973: David S. Broder, "Washington Post", "for his columns during 1972."
* 1972: Mike Royko, "Chicago Daily News", "for his columns during 1971."
* 1971: William A. Caldwell, "The Record" (Hackensack, New Jersey), "for his commentary in his daily column."
* 1970: Marquis W. Childs, "St. Louis Post-Dispatch", "distinguished commentary during 1969."

Reference

* [http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Criticism List of Commentary winners and Finalists]