- Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
The
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service has been awarded since 1918 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. It was meant to be first awarded in 1917, however, no award was given in that year. The most prestigious of thePulitzer Prizes , recipients of the public service award also receive a gold medal. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reason for the award.List of winners and their official citations
*1917: no award given
*1918: "New York Times", "for its public service in publishing in full so many official reports, documents and speeches by European statesmen relating to the progress and conduct of the war."
*1919: "Milwaukee Journal ", "for its strong and courageous campaign forAmericanism in a constituency where foreign elements made such a policy hazardous from a business point of view."
*1920: no award given
*1921: "Boston Post ", "for its exposure of the operations ofCharles Ponzi by a series of articles which finally led to his arrest."
*1922: "New York World ", "for articles exposing the operations of theKu Klux Klan , published during September and October, 1921."
*1923: "Memphis Commercial Appeal ", "for its courageous attitude in the publication of cartoons and the handling of news in reference to the operations of the Ku Klux Klan."
*1924: "New York World ", "for its work in connection with the exposure of theFlorida peonage evil."
*1925: no award given
*1926: "Columbus Enquirer Sun ", "for the service which it rendered in its brave and energetic fight against the Ku Klux Klan; against the enactment of a law barring the teaching of evolution; against dishonest and incompetent public officials and for justice to theNegro and againstlynching ."
*1927: "Canton Daily News " (Ohio ), "for its brave, patriotic and effective fight for the ending of a vicious state of affairs brought about by collusion between city authorities and the criminal element, a fight which had a tragic result in theassassination of the editor of the paper, Mr. Don R. Mellett."
*1928: "Indianapolis Times ", "for its work in exposing political corruption toIndiana , prosecuting the guilty and bringing about a more wholesome state of affairs in civil government."
*1929: "New York Evening World ", "for its effective campaign to correct evils in the administration of justice, including the fight to curb 'ambulance chaser s,' support of the 'fence' bill, and measures to simplify procedure, prevent perjury and eliminate politics from municipal courts; a campaign which has been instrumental in securing remedial action."
*1930: No award given
*1931: "Atlanta Constitution", "for a successful municipal graft exposure and consequent convictions."
*1932: "Indianapolis News ", "for its successful campaign to eliminate waste in city management and to reduce thetax levy ."
*1933: "New York World-Telegram ", "for its series of articles on veterans relief, on the real estate bond evil, the campaign urging voters in the lateNew York City municipal election to "write in" the name ofJoseph V. McKee , and the articles exposing thelottery schemes of various fraternal organizations."
*1934: "Medford Mail Tribune" (Oregon), "for its campaign against unscrupulous politicians inJackson County, Oregon ."
*1935: "The Sacramento Bee ", "for its campaign againstpolitical machine influence in the appointment of two Federal judges inNevada ."
*1936: "Cedar Rapids Gazette ", "for its crusade against corruption and misgovernment in the State ofIowa ."
*1937: "St. Louis Post-Dispatch ", "for its exposure of wholesale fraudulent registration in St. Louis. By a coordinated news, editorial and cartoon campaign this newspaper succeeded in invalidating upwards of 40,000 fraudulent ballots in November and brought about the appointment of a new election board."
*1938: "Bismarck Tribune ", "for its news reports and editorials entitled, 'Self Help in theDust Bowl .'"
*1939: "Miami Daily News ", "for its campaign for the recall of theMiami City Commission ."
*1940: "Waterbury Republican & American" (Connecticut ), "for its campaign exposing municipal graft."
*1941: "St. Louis Post-Dispatch ", "for its successful campaign against the city smoke nuisance."
*1942: "Los Angeles Times ", "for its successful campaign which resulted in the clarification and confirmation for all American newspapers of the right of free press as guaranteed under the Constitution."
*1943: "Omaha World-Herald ", "for its initiative and originality in planning a state-wide campaign for the collection of scrap metal for thewar effort . The Nebraska plan was adopted on a national scale by the daily newspapers, resulting in a united effort which succeeded in supplying our war industries with necessary scrap material."
*1944: "New York Times", "for its survey of the teaching of American History."
*1945: "Detroit Free Press ", "for its investigation of legislative graft and corruption atLansing, Michigan ."
*1946: "Scranton Times ", "for its fifteen-year investigation of judicial practices in the United States District Court for the middle district of Pennsylvania, resulting in removal of the District Judge and indictment of many others."
*1947: "Baltimore Sun", "for its series of articles byHoward M. Norton dealing with the administration of unemployment compensation inMaryland , resulting in convictions and pleas of guilty in criminal court of 93 persons."
*1948: "St. Louis Post-Dispatch ", "for the coverage of theCentralia, Illinois , mine disaster and the follow-up which resulted in impressive reforms inmine safety laws and regulations."
*1949: "Nebraska State Journal ", "for the campaign establishing the "Nebraska All-Star Primary" presidential preference primary which spotlighted, through a bi-partisan committee, issues early in the presidential campaign."
*1950: "Chicago Daily News " and "St. Louis Post-Dispatch ", "for the work ofGeorge Thiem andRoy J. Harris , respectively, in exposing the presence of 37Illinois newspapermen on an Illinois State payroll."
*1951: "Miami Herald " and "Brooklyn Eagle ", "for their crime reporting during the year."
*1952: "St. Louis Post-Dispatch ", "for its investigation and disclosures of wide spread corruption in the Internal Revenue Bureau and other departments of the government."
*1953: "Whiteville News Reporter ", a semi-weekly North Carolina newspaper. and "Tabor City Tribune ", a weekly North Carolina newspaper, "for their successful campaign against the Ku Klux Klan, waged on their own doorstep at the risk of economic loss and personal danger, culminating in the conviction of over one hundred Klansmen and an end to terrorism in their communities."
*1954: "Newsday ", "for its expose of New York State's race track scandals and labor racketeering, which led to the extortion indictment, guilty plea and imprisonment ofWilliam C. DeKoning, Sr. , New York labor racketeer."
*1955: "Columbus Ledger " and "Sunday Ledger-Enquirer ", "for its complete news coverage and fearless editorial attack on widespread corruption in neighboringPhenix City, Alabama , which were effective in destroying a corrupt and racket-ridden city government."
*1956: "Watsonville Register-Pajaronian " (California), "for courageous exposure of corruption in public office, which led to the resignation of adistrict attorney and the conviction of one of his associates."
*1957: "Chicago Daily News ", "for determined and courageous public service in exposing a $2,500,000 fraud centering in the office of theState Auditor of Illinois , resulting in the indictment and conviction of the State Auditor and others. This led to the reorganization of State procedures to prevent a recurrence of the fraud."
*1958: "Arkansas Gazette ", "for demonstrating the highest qualities of civic leadership, journalistic responsibility and moral courage in the face of great public tension during the school integration crisis of 1957. "
*1959: "Utica Observer-Dispatch " and "Utica Daily Press ", "for their successful campaign against corruption, gambling and vice in their home city and the achievement of sweeping civic reforms in the face of political pressure and threats of violence."
*1960: "Los Angeles Times ", "for its thorough, sustained and well-conceived attack on narcotics traffic and the enterprising reporting ofGene Sherman , which led to the opening of negotiations between theUnited States and Mexico to halt the flow of illegal drugs intosouthern California and other border states."
*1961: "Amarillo Globe-Times", "for exposing a breakdown in local law enforcement with resultant punitive action that swept lax officials from their posts and brought about the election of a reform slate. The newspaper thus exerted its civic leadership in the finest tradition of journalism."
*1962: "Panama City News-Herald ", "for its three-year campaign against entrenched power and corruption, with resultant reforms in Panama City and Bay County."
*1963: "Chicago Daily News ", "for calling public attention to the issue of providingbirth control services in the public health programs in its area."
*1964: "St. Petersburg Times ", "for its aggressive investigation of theFlorida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program."
*1965: "Hutchinson News ", "for its courageous and constructive campaign, culminating in 1964, to bring about more equitable reapportionment of the Kansas Legislature, despite powerful opposition in its own community."
*1966: "Boston Globe ", "for its campaign to prevent confirmation ofFrancis X Morrissey as a Federal District Judge inMassachusetts ."
*1967: "Milwaukee Journal ", "for its successful campaign to stiffen the law against water pollution inWisconsin , a notable advance in the national effort for the conservation of natural resources."
*1967: "Louisville Courier-Journal ", for its successful campaign to control the Kentucky strip mining industry, a notable advance in the national effort for the conservation of natural resources.
*1968: "Riverside Press-Enterprise", "for its expose of corruption in the courts in connection with the handling of the property and estates of an Indian tribe inCalifornia , and its successful efforts to punish the culprits."
*1969: "Los Angeles Times ", "for its expose of wrongdoing within the Los Angeles City Government Commissions, resulting in resignations or criminal convictions of certain members, as well as widespread reforms."
*1970: "Newsday ", "for its three-year investigation and exposure of secret land deals in easternLong Island , which led to a series of criminal convictions, discharges and resignations among public and political officeholders in the area."
*1971: "Winston-Salem Journal ", "for coverage of environmental problems, as exemplified by a successful campaign to block strip mining operation that would have caused irreparable damage to the hill country of northwest North Carolina."
*1972: "The New York Times ", "for the publication of thePentagon Papers ."
*1973: "Washington Post ", "for its investigation of the Watergate case."
*1974: "Newsday ", "for its definitive report on the illicit narcotic traffic in the United States and abroad, entitled, 'The Heroin Trail.'"
*1975: "Boston Globe ", "for its massive coverage of the Boston school desegregation crisis."
*1976: "Anchorage Daily News ", "for its disclosures of the impact and influence of the Teamsters Union onAlaska 's economy and politics."
*1977: "Lufkin Daily News ", "for an obituary of a local man who died in Marine training camp, which grew into an investigation of that death and a fundamental reform in the recruiting and training practices of theUnited States Marine Corps ."
*1978: "The Philadelphia Inquirer ", "for a series of articles showing abuses of power by the police in its home city."
*1979: "The Point Reyes Light ", "aCalifornia weekly, for its investigation ofSynanon ."
*1980: "Gannett News Service ", "for its series on financial contributions to the Pauline Fathers."
*1981: "Charlotte Observer ", "for its series on 'Brown Lung: A Case of Deadly Neglect.'"
*1982: "Detroit News ", "for a series bySydney P. Freedberg andDavid Ashenfelter which exposed theU.S. Navy 's cover-up of circumstances surrounding the deaths of seamen aboard ship and which led to significant reforms in naval procedures."
*1983:Jackson Clarion-Ledger , "for its successful campaign supporting Governor Winter in his legislative battle for reform of Mississippi's public education system."
*1984: "Los Angeles Times ", "for an in-depth examination of southern California's growing Latino community by a team of editors and reporters."
*1985: "Fort Worth Star-Telegram ", "for reporting byMark Thompson (reporter) which revealed that nearly 250 U.S. servicemen had lost their lives as a result of a design problem in helicopters built byBell Helicopter - a revelation which ultimately led the Army to ground almost 600 Huey helicopters pending their modification."
*1986: "The Denver Post ", "for its in-depth study of "missing children ," which revealed that most are involved in custody disputes or are runaways, and which helped mitigate national fears stirred by exaggerated statistics."
*1987: "Pittsburgh Press ", "for reporting byAndrew Schneider andMatthew Brelis which revealed the inadequacy of the FAA's medical screening of airline pilots and led to significant reforms."
*1988: "Charlotte Observer ", "for revealing misuse of funds by thePTL television ministry through persistent coverage conducted in the face of a massive campaign by PTL to discredit the newspaper."
*1989: "Anchorage Daily News ", "for reporting about the high incidence of alcoholism and suicide amongAlaska Natives in a series that focused attention on their despair and resulted in various reforms."
*1990: "Washington Daily News" (Washington, North Carolina ), "for revealing that the city's water supply was contaminated withcarcinogens , a problem that the local government had neither disclosed nor corrected over a period of eight years."
*1990: "The Philadelphia Inquirer ", "for reporting byGilbert M. Gaul that disclosed how the American blood industry operates with little government regulation or supervision."
*1991: "Des Moines Register ", "for reporting byJane Schorer that, with the victim's consent, named a woman who had beenrape d -- which prompted widespread reconsideration of the traditional media practice of concealing the identity of rape victims."
*1992: "The Sacramento Bee ", "for 'The Sierra in Peril,' reporting byTom Knudson that examined environmental threats and damage to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California."
*1993: "Miami Herald ", "for coverage that not only helped readers cope withHurricane Andrew 's devastation but also showed how lax zoning, inspection and building codes had contributed to the destruction."
*1994: "Akron Beacon Journal ", "for its broad examination of local racial attitudes and its subsequent effort to promote improved communication in the community."
*1995: "Virgin Islands Daily News ", "for its disclosure of the links between the region's rampant crime rate and corruption in the local criminal justice system. The reporting, largely the work ofMelvin Claxton , initiated political reforms."
*1996: "The News & Observer ", "for the work of Melanie Sill, Pat Stith and Joby Warrick on the environmental and health risks of waste disposal systems used in North Carolina's growing hog industry."
*1997: "New Orleans Times-Picayune ", "for its comprehensive series analyzing the conditions that threaten the world's supply of fish."
*1998: "Grand Forks Herald ", "for its sustained and informative coverage, vividly illustrated with photographs, that helped hold its community together in the wake of flooding, a blizzard and a fire that devastated much of the city, including the newspaper plant itself."
*1999: "The Washington Post ", "for its series that identified and analyzed patterns of reckless gunplay by city police officers who had little training or supervision."
*2000: "The Washington Post ", "notably for the work ofKatherine Boo that disclosed wretched neglect and abuse in the city's group homes for the mentally retarded, which forced officials to acknowledge the conditions and begin reforms."
*2001: "The Oregonian " (Portland, Oregon ), "for its detailed and unflinching examination of systematic problems within the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, including harsh treatment of foreign nationals and other widespread abuses, which prompted various reforms."
*2002: "The New York Times ", "for a special section published regularly after the September 11th terrorist attacks on America, which coherently and comprehensively covered the tragic events, profiled the victims, and tracked the developing story, locally and globally."
*2003: "The Boston Globe ", "for its courageous, comprehensive coverage of sexual abuse by priests, an effort that pierced secrecy, stirred local, national and international reaction and produced changes in theRoman Catholic Church ."
*2004: "The New York Times ", "for the work ofDavid Barstow andLowell Bergman that relentlessly examined death and injury among American workers and exposed employers who break basic safety rules." (This was moved by the board from the Investigative Reporting category, where it was also entered.)
*2005: "Los Angeles Times ", "for its courageous, exhaustively researched series exposing deadly medical problems and racial injustice at a major public hospital."
*2006: "Biloxi Sun Herald" (Mississippi), "for its valorous and comprehensive coverage ofHurricane Katrina , providing a lifeline for devastated readers, in print and online, during their time of greatest need."
*2006: "New Orleans Times-Picayune", "for its heroic, multi-faceted coverage ofHurricane Katrina and its aftermath, making exceptional use of the newspaper's resources to serve an inundated city even after evacuation of the newspaper plant."
*2007: "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."
*2008: "The Washington Post ", "For the work ofDana Priest ,Anne Hull and photographer Michel du Cille in exposing mistreatment of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, evoking a national outcry and producing reforms by federal officials."Reference
* [http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Public+Service Public Service Winners and Finalists]
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