NEW YORK — The Pulitzer Prizes for 2024 recognized outstanding achievements in journalism, with The New York Times and The New Yorker garnering significant accolades. The Times clinched four awards, while The New Yorker received three, celebrating coverage of urgent issues including the fentanyl crisis, military policy, and the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
ProPublica earned the prestigious public service medal for the second consecutive year, this time for its investigative reporting on the tragic deaths of pregnant women who were denied immediate medical care in states with restrictive abortion laws. Additionally, The Washington Post was praised for its “urgent and illuminating” breaking news coverage related to the assassination attempt on Trump. Ann Telnaes, a former cartoonist with the Post, was also honored for her fearless editorial work, particularly with a pointed critique of tech leaders.
A total of 15 categories were highlighted in the Pulitzer awards, alongside eight dedicated to the arts, encompassing fields such as literature, music, and theater. The winners in most categories receive $15,000, while the public service award comes with a gold medal.
The New York Times showcased its diverse reporting portfolio, receiving recognition for investigative work across various global and domestic stories, including an in-depth look at U.S. policy failures in Afghanistan and the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The visual storytelling by Doug Mills, particularly his gripping images capturing the gravity of the Trump assassination attempt, also earned accolades.
In a notable partnership, The Times collaborated with The Baltimore Banner, a local news outlet established just three years ago by former Baltimore Sun staff. This collaboration resulted in a local reporting award for coverage of the fentanyl epidemic affecting the Baltimore community, particularly its impact on Black men. Kimi Yoshino, editorial leader at The Banner, expressed immense pride in this achievement, noting the critical role of local journalism in addressing pressing community issues.
Investigative efforts surrounding fentanyl were further recognized, with Reuters receiving an award for its examination of the drug’s accessibility due to regulatory lapses. The San Diego-based inewsource.org also garnered attention as a finalist for its illustrated commentary on the crisis.
The New Yorker was awarded for its insightful commentary on the situation in Gaza, while the magazine’s podcast “In the Dark” was recognized for delving into U.S. military actions in Iraq. The publication also earned honors for stunning feature photography depicting the conditions within Syria’s Sednaya prison.
The Wall Street Journal won a Pulitzer for its extensive reporting on Elon Musk, exploring his political shift and personal interactions with global leaders. Additionally, it was recognized for its thoughtful coverage of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist currently detained in Russia.
A special citation honored the late Chuck Stone for his groundbreaking contributions to civil rights journalism. Stone was noted as the first Black columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and was instrumental in founding the National Association of Black Journalists.
Feature writing also received recognition, with Esquire’s Mark Warren winning for a poignant profile of a Baptist pastor whose life ended tragically after an online exposé. Meanwhile, Bloomberg CityLab’s Alexandra Lange was honored for her engaging critiques of family-friendly public spaces.
Finally, the Houston Chronicle’s editorial team was awarded for its report revealing the dangers posed by unsafe train crossings. As part of this year’s awards, notable mentions included a finalist recognition for investigative reporting shared by a collaborative effort between PBS and an independent news organization documenting a concerning trend of fatal encounters with law enforcement.