2002 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced
Posted on April 11, 2002
The 86th annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music, awarded on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, were announced by President George Rupp of Columbia University. The New York Times claimed seven of the Pulitzer Prizes. The winners in each category, along with the names of the finalists in the competition, follow:
A. PRIZES IN JOURNALISM
1. PUBLIC SERVICE
For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources which, as well as reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs and an online presentation, a gold medal.
Awarded to The New York Times for "A Nation Challenged," 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.
2. BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
For a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The Wall Street Journal Staff for its comprehensive and insightful coverage, executed under the most difficult circumstances, of the terrorist attacks on New York City, which recounted the day's events and their implications for the future.
3. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Sari Horwitz, Scott Higham and Sarah Cohen of The Washington Post for a series that exposed the District of Columbia's role in the neglect and death of 229 children placed in protective care between 1993 and 2000, which prompted an overhaul of the city's child welfare system.
4. EXPLANATORY REPORTING
For a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The New York Times Staff for its informed and detailed reporting, before and after the September 11th attacks on America, that profiled the global terrorism network and the threats it posed.
5. BEAT REPORTING
For a distinguished example of beat reporting characterized by sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Gretchen Morgenson of The New York Times for her trenchant and incisive Wall Street coverage.
6. NATIONAL REPORTING
For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The Washington Post Staff for its comprehensive coverage of America's war on terrorism, which regularly brought forth new information together with skilled analysis of unfolding developments.
7. INTERNATIONAL REPORTING
For a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Barry Bearak of The New York Times for his deeply affecting and illuminating coverage of daily life in war-torn Afghanistan.
8. FEATURE WRITING
For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Barry Siegel of the Los Angeles Times for his humane and haunting portrait of a man tried for negligence in the death of his son, and the judge who heard the case.
9. COMMENTARY
For distinguished commentary, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Thomas Friedman of The New York Times for his clarity of vision, based on extensive reporting, in commenting on the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat.
10. CRITICISM
For distinguished criticism, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Justin Davidson of Newsday, Long Island, New York, for his crisp coverage of classical music that captures its essence.
11. EDITORIAL WRITING
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, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Alex Raksin and Bob Sipchen of the Los Angeles Times for their comprehensive and powerfully written editorials exploring the issues and dilemmas provoked by mentally ill people dwelling on the streets.
12. EDITORIAL CARTOONING
For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Clay Bennett of The Christian Science Monitor.
13. BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
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, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The New York Times Staff for its consistently outstanding photographic coverage of the terrorist attack on New York City and its aftermath.
14. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
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, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The New York Times Staff for its photographs chronicling the pain and the perseverance of people enduring protracted conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
B. LETTERS AND DRAMA PRIZES
1. FICTION
For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Alfred A. Knopf).
2. DRAMA
For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks.
3. HISTORY
For a distinguished book upon the history of the United States, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America by Louis Menand (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
4. BIOGRAPHY
For a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to John Adams by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster).
5. POETRY
For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Practical Gods by Carl Dennis (Penguin Books).
6. GENERAL NONFICTION
For a distinguished book of nonfiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama, the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution by Diane McWhorter (Simon & Schuster).
C. PRIZE IN MUSIC
For distinguished musical composition of significant dimension by an American that has had its first performance in the United States during the year, Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
Awarded to Ice Field by Henry Brant, premiered by the San Francisco Symphony on December 12, 2001, at Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California.
The Pulitzer Prize Board made its recommendations when it met at Columbia on April 4 and 5 and passed them to President Rupp. It announced that the presentation of the awards would be made at a luncheon on May 30 at Columbia University.