AP News, April 16th, 2007
The Wall Street Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday for exposing excesses of capitalism _ in America and in communist China. The Associated Press captured one for what the judges called a "powerful photograph" of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces.
The journalism prizes recognized a range of American print journalism on subjects from the world's oceans to corruption in Alabama colleges to restaurant reviews.
The Journal, the only multiple winner, was honored for public service for its coverage of the stock-options scandal that rattled corporate America in 2006. It also won the international reporting award for what the judges praised as "sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China's booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution."
"They were just tremendous pieces of work and I'm very proud of them," Managing Editor Paul Steiger said. "One of the most important missions of The Wall Street Journal is to expose ills in business so that they can be corrected. And this coverage ... resulted in more than 100 companies coming under investigation and many companies having to restate their earnings."
The AP captured the Pulitzer for breaking news photography for Oded Balilty's picture of the Jewish woman resisting Israeli security forces face to face as they removed settlers in the West Bank. The AP was a finalist in the same category for photos from the war between Israel and Hezbollah, including one by Balilty.
"I feel like today I kissed the moon. It's amazing. I'm so happy, also for myself and also for the bureau," Balilty said.
The staff of The (Portland) Oregonian won for breaking news for its reporting on a California family that disappeared in the mountains during a blizzard. James Kim and his family took a wrong turn while returning home to San Francisco following a Thanksgiving trip. Kim was found dead after his wife and two young daughters were rescued. The judges praised the newspaper for its "skillful and tenacious coverage ... telling the tragic story both in print and online."
"Our thoughts today are with the Kim family, for, as our reporting showed, this is a tragic accident that might have been avoided," Executive Editor Peter Bhatia said.
Reporters Kenneth R. Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and photographer Rick Loomis of the Los Angeles Times won for explanatory reporting for stories on the world's distressed oceans.
"This is such great work, and it's such a great day," said Editor James O'Shea, surrounded by staffers in the newspaper's third-floor newsroom, where morale had been affected by job cuts and management departures.
The judges also praised the Times for its online work on the project, including video and photos by Loomis _ reflecting the added consideration given to multimedia this year. The last time a photographer won in the explanatory reporting category was 1995.
This year's Pulitzers marked a significant expansion of online journalism in the entries. Newspapers were able to submit online material like video, blogs, databases and interactive graphics for all print categories.
Sig Gissler, who administers the Pulitzers, said online content was involved in about 15 percent to 20 percent of the entries in various forms.
Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (Ala.) News won for investigative reporting for his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system. The stories resulted in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action, the Pulitzer board noted. The stories were also finalists in the public service category, but were moved to investigative reporting by the board.
Charlie Savage of The Boston Globe won for national reporting for his revelations that President Bush often used "signing statements" to assert his controversial right to bypass provisions of new laws.
"This is a great honor, and I view it as a great moment not just for myself but for the Globe as an institution," Savage said. "The Globe for a while was throwing it out on the front page when a lot of people were ignoring it, and that took a lot of courage."
The New York Times won one Pulitzer _ Andrea Elliott for feature writing for a "richly textured portrait" of an immigrant imam striving to serve his faithful in America.
Two other New York papers won Pulitzers. New York Daily News writers Arthur Browne, Beverly Weintraub and Heidi Evans were honored for editorial writing for "compassionate and compelling editorials" on behalf of ground zero workers. Walt Handelsman of Long Island's Newsday was honored for editorial cartooning.
Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution won for commentary for "courageous, clear-headed columns."
Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald was honored for local reporting for reports on waste, favoritism and lack of oversight at the Miami housing agency.
Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly was cited for criticism for his restaurant reviews.
Renee C. Byer of The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee was honored for feature photography for her portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with cancer.
Balilty's award marked the AP's 49th Pulitzer and the 30th for photos. It was unusual for any one reporter or photographer to be nominated twice in one category, Gissler said.
"Their success in the breaking-news photo category enhances the truly spectacular and enduring contribution made by AP photojournalists over decades," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "They have added to an unrivaled collection of iconic images displayed on front pages and newscasts that have become forever etched in public consciousness."
The board also gave special recognition to Iranian photographer Jahangir Razmi, whose chilling 1979 picture of a firing squad in his native country won the 1980 Pulitzer for spot news photography. He remained anonymous until a Wall Street Journal reporter unmasked his identity in a December article.
Winners in every category except for public service receive a $10,000 cash award and a certificate. The public service winner is awarded a gold medal.
The awards are given by Columbia University on the recommendation of the 18-member board.
The Pulitzers were created under the terms of the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who died in 1911. He endowed the journalism school at Columbia, and dictated that money be set aside for the prizes. The first awards were handed out in 1917.
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On the Net:
http://www.pulitzer.org
