Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a prestigious set of annual awards for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. Established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, an esteemed newspaper publisher, the prizes are administered by Columbia University in New York City. The awards are regarded as the highest national honor in these fields.
History
The Pulitzer Prizes were established by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper publisher who owned the New York World and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pulitzer left a bequest to Columbia University upon his death in 1911, which led to the creation of the School of Journalism and the establishment of the Pulitzer Prizes. The first prizes were awarded on June 4, 1917.
Pulitzer's vision was to encourage excellence in journalism and the arts. His endowment specified four journalism awards, four literary awards, one for education, and five traveling scholarships. Over time, the number and categories of awards have evolved to reflect changes in the media landscape and societal values.
Categories
The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded in 21 categories, including Public Service, Breaking News Reporting, Investigative Reporting, Explanatory Reporting, Local Reporting, National Reporting, International Reporting, Feature Writing, Commentary, Criticism, Editorial Writing, Editorial Cartooning, Breaking News Photography, and Feature Photography. In the arts, prizes are awarded for Fiction, Drama, History, Biography or Autobiography, Poetry, General Nonfiction, and Music.
Journalism
The journalism awards are highly coveted and include categories such as Public Service, Breaking News Reporting, and Investigative Reporting. The Public Service award is considered the most prestigious and is often given to a newspaper rather than an individual journalist. It is the only category in which the winner receives a gold medal.
Other notable categories include Explanatory Reporting, which honors journalism that illuminates significant and complex subjects, and Feature Writing, which celebrates narrative storytelling and the human experience.
Literature
In literature, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of the most renowned awards, often propelling the winning book to national prominence. Other literary categories include Drama, History, Biography or Autobiography, Poetry, and General Nonfiction. These awards recognize outstanding works that contribute to American culture and intellectual life.
The Drama award, for instance, has been awarded to some of the most influential plays in American theater, including works by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson.
Music
The Pulitzer Prize for Music honors distinguished musical compositions by an American that have had their first performance or recording in the United States. This category has recognized a wide range of musical styles, from classical compositions to jazz and contemporary music.
Selection Process
The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which consists of esteemed journalists, academics, and other professionals. The board is responsible for overseeing the judging process and making the final decisions on the winners.
Each category has its own jury, composed of experts in the field, who review the submissions and select finalists. These finalists are then presented to the Pulitzer Prize Board, which deliberates and votes to determine the winners. The board has the authority to withhold an award if no entry meets its standards of excellence.
Impact and Criticism
The Pulitzer Prizes have a significant impact on the careers of journalists, authors, and composers. Winning a Pulitzer can lead to increased recognition, career advancement, and financial rewards. The awards also highlight important issues and contribute to public discourse.
However, the Pulitzers have faced criticism over the years. Some argue that the selection process is opaque and that the awards can be influenced by political and cultural biases. Others contend that the focus on American works limits the recognition of international contributions to journalism and the arts.
Notable Winners
Throughout its history, the Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to many notable individuals and works. In journalism, winners include Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein for their investigative reporting on the Watergate scandal, and The New York Times for its coverage of the September 11 attacks.
In literature, winners include Ernest Hemingway for "The Old Man and the Sea," Harper Lee for "To Kill a Mockingbird," and Toni Morrison for "Beloved." In music, winners include Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Kendrick Lamar, who became the first rapper to win the prize for his album "DAMN."