Encyclopedia > Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing has been awarded since 1917 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. List of winners: The gold medal awarded for Public Service in Journalism The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical compositions. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... An editorial is a statement or article by a news organization (generally a newspaper) that expresses an opinion rather than attempting to simply report news, as the latter should ideally be done without bias. ...
1917: no author named, The New York Times, for an editorial article on the first anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania.
1918: no author named, Louisville Courier Journal, for the editorial article, "Vae Victis!" and the editorial, "War Has Its Compensation."
1929: Louis Isaac Jaffe, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, for his editorial entitled "An Unspeakable Act of Savagery," which is typical of a series of articles written on the lynching evil and in successful advocacy of legislation to prevent it.
1938: William Wesley Waymack, Des Moines Register, for his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
1939: Ronald G. Callvert, The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), for his distinguished editorial writing during the year as exemplified by the editorial entitled "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
1944: Henry J. Haskell, The Kansas City Star, for editorials written during the calendar year 1943.
1945: George W. Potter, Providence Journal-Bulletin, for his editorials published during the calendar year 1944, especially for his editorials on the subject of freedom of the press.
1946:Hodding Carter, Delta Democrat-Times (Greenville, Missouri), for a group of editorials published during the year 1945 on the subject of racial, religious and economic intolerance, as exemplified by the editorial "Go for Broke."
1949: John H. Crider, Boston Herald, for distinguished editorial writing during the year.
1950: Carl M. Saunders of Jackson Citizen Patriot (Michigan), for distinguished editorial writing during the year.
1951: William Harry Fitzpatrick, New Orleans States, for his series of editorials analyzing and clarifying a very important constitutional issue, which is described by the general heading of the series, "Government by Treaty."
1952: Louis LaCoss, St. Louis Globe Democrat, for his editorial entitled, "The Low Estate of Public Morals."
1954:Don Murray, Boston Herald, for a series of editorials on the "New Look" in National Defense which won wide attention for their analysis of changes in American military policy.
1955: Royce Howes, Detroit Free Press, for an editorial on "The Cause of a Strike," impartially and clearly analyzing the responsibility of both labor and management for a local union's unauthorized strike in July, 1954, which rendered 45,000 Chrysler Corporation workers idle and unpaid. By pointing out how and why the parent United Automobile Workers' Union ordered the local strike called off and stating that management let dissatisfaction get out of hand, the editorial made a notable contribution to public understanding of the whole program of the respective responsibilities and relationships of labor and management in this field.
1956: Lauren K. Soth, Register and Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa), for the editorial inviting a farm delegation from the Soviet Union to visit Iowa, which led directly to the Russian farm visit to the U.S.
1957: Buford Boone of Tuscaloosa News, for his fearless and reasoned editorials in a community inflamed by a segregation issue, an outstanding example of his work being the editorial entitled, "What a Price for Peace," published on February 7, 1956.
1958: Harry S. Ashmore, Arkansas Gazette, for the forcefulness, dispassionate analysis and clarity of his editorials on the school integration conflict in Little Rock.
1959:Ralph McGill, Atlanta Constitution, for his distinguished editorial writing during 1958 as exemplified in his editorial "A Church, A School...." and for his long, courageous and effective editorial leadership.
1960: Lenoir Chambers, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, for his series of editorials on the school integration problem in Virginia, as exemplified by "The Year the Schools Closed," published January 1, 1959, and "The Year the Schools Opened," published December 31, 1959.
1961: William J. Dorvillier, San Juan Star, for his editorials on clerical interference in the 1960 gubernatorial election in Puerto Rico.
1962:Thomas M. Storke, Santa Barbara News-Press, for his forceful editorials calling public attention to the activities of a semi-secret organization known as the John Birch Society.
1963: Ira B. Harkey, Jr., Pascagoula Chronicle, for his courageous editorials devoted to the processes of law and reason during the integration crisis in Mississippi in 1962.
1964:Hazel Brannon Smith, Lexington Advertiser, for steadfast adherence to her editorial duty in the face of great pressure and opposition.
1965: John R. Harrison, Gainesville Sun (Florida), for his successful editorial campaign for better housing in his city.
1976: Philip P. Kerby, Los Angeles Times, for his editorials against government secrecy and judicial censorship.
1977: Warren L. Lerude, Foster Church and Norman F. Cardoza, Reno Evening Gazette and Nevada State Journal, for editorials challenging the power of a local brothel keeper.
1989: Lois Wille, Chicago Tribune, for her editorials on a variety of local issues.
1990: Thomas J. Hylton, Pottstown Mercury (Pennsylvania), for his editorials about a local bond issue for the preservation of farmland and other open space in rural Pennsylvania.
1991:Ron Casey, Harold Jackson and Joey Kennedy of Birmingham News (Alabama), for their editorial campaign analyzing inequities in Alabama's tax system and proposing needed reforms.
1992: Maria Henson, Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky), for her editorials about battered women in Kentucky, which focused statewide attention on the problem and prompted significant reforms.
1994: R. Bruce Dold, Chicago Tribune, for his series of editorials deploring the murder of a 3-year-old boy by his abusive mother and decrying the Illinois child welfare system.
1995: Jeffrey Good, St. Petersburg Times (Florida), for his editorial campaign urging reform of Florida's probate system for settling estates.
1996: Robert B. Semple, Jr., The New York Times, for his editorials on environmental issues.
1997:Michael Gartner, Daily Tribune (Ames, Iowa), for his common sense editorials about issues deeply affecting the lives of people in his community.
1998: Bernard L. Stein, Riverdale Press (New York), for his gracefully-written editorials on politics and other issues affecting New York City residents.
2000:John C. Bersia, Orlando Sentinel, for his passionate editorial campaign attacking predatory lending practices in the state, which prompted changes in local lending regulations.
2001: David Moats, Rutland Herald (Vermont), for his even-handed and influential series of editorials commenting on the divisive issues arising from civil unions for same-sex couples.
2002: Alex Raksin and Bob Sipchen, Los Angeles Times, for their comprehensive and powerfully-written editorials exploring the issues and dilemmas provoked by mentally ill people dwelling on the streets.
2004: William R. Stall, Los Angeles Times, for his incisive editorials that analyzed California's troubled state government, prescribed remedies and served as a model for addressing complex state issues.
2005: Tom Philp of Sacramento Bee, for his deeply researched editorials on reclaiming California’s flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley that stirred action.
We are thrilled-but not surprised-that the Pulitzer Committee has awarded Bob Raksin and Bob Sipchen, the 2002PulitzerPrize in EditorialWriting.
In the words of the committee, “their comprehensive and powerfully written editorials exploring the issues and dilemmas” facing people with mental illness who live on the streets.
Last summer, NAMI also honored the Los Angeles Times with its 2001 National Media Award for Outstanding EditorialWriting, with specific recognition given to Alex Raksin, for addressing mental illness issues with fairness, sensitivity and accuracy.
The PulitzerPrize for EditorialWriting has been awarded since 1917 for distinguished editorialwriting, 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.
1929: Louis Isaac Jaffe, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, for his editorial entitled "An Unspeakable Act of Savagery," which is typical of a series of articles written on the lynching evil and in successful advocacy of legislation to prevent it.
Bruce Dold, Chicago Tribune, for his series of editorials deploring the murder of a 3-year-old boy by his abusive mother and decrying the Illinois child welfare system.
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