The
Pulitzer Prize is a literary award given out each April. Recipients of the award are chosen by an independent board and officially administered by
Columbia University. The prize was established by
Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper publisher in the late 19th century. The very first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded on
June 4,
1917.
These are the Pulitzer Prize category definitions in the 2002 competition:
- 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.
- For a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news.
- For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series.
- For a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation.
- For a distinguished example of beat reporting characterized by sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity.
- For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs.
- For a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence.
- For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality.
- For distinguished commentary.
- For distinguished criticism.
- 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.
- For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect.
- 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.
- For a distinguished example of feature photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album.
There are also five letters (books) categories:
- For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life.
- For a distinguished book upon the history of the United States.
- For a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author.
- For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author.
- For a distinguished book of non-fiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category.
Two additonal awards are given for drama and music for a total of 21 award categories.
The complete list of Pulitzer Prizes given (inlcuding discontinued awards) is as follows:
Journalism:
The Humanities:
There have also been a number of Special Citations and Awards[?].
List of winners:
- The official Pulitzer prize website: