In a notable celebration of journalism, the New York Times secured four Pulitzer Prizes, while the New Yorker garnered three, recognizing their impactful reporting in 2024 on critical issues such as the fentanyl epidemic and the dangers facing the U.S. military. The prestigious public service medal was awarded to ProPublica for the second consecutive year. They were acknowledged for a poignant and necessary investigation by journalists Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo, and Stacy Kranitz, focusing on the tragic deaths of pregnant women due to delayed medical care in states enforcing strict abortion laws.
The Washington Post received accolades for its “urgent and illuminating” coverage of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Despite controversy after leaving the Post when her cartoon criticizing tech moguls’ alignment with Trump was not published, Ann Telnaes’ bold editorial stance was praised by the Pulitzers. Her work demonstrated notable bravery in journalism.
The awards highlighted exceptional journalism from the year across 15 categories, in addition to appreciating achievements in the arts, comprising books, music, and theater. The public service honor is marked by a gold medal, with winners in other categories receiving a monetary prize of $15,000.
The New York Times demonstrated its reporting range with commendable coverage from various regions, including Afghanistan and Sudan, along with places like Baltimore and Butler, Pennsylvania. Doug Mills was recognized for his striking breaking news photographs capturing the Trump assassination event, notably capturing a crucial moment of a bullet mid-air.
Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum, and contributing writer Matthieu Aikins from the Times were awarded in the explanatory reporting category, delving into the failures of U.S. policies in Afghanistan. Moreover, Declan Walsh and the Times’ contributors were honored for deep investigative work on the Sudan conflict.
An emergent publication, The Baltimore Banner, achieved a significant victory with contributions by reporters Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme, and Jessica Gallagher in local reporting on the city’s devastating fentanyl crisis and its disproportionate impact on Black men. Editor in Chief Kimi Yoshino remarked this achievement signifies the power of impactful, local journalism.
Their analytical model, used to explore these issues, is expected to assist other journalists in cities like Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, showcasing the collaborative spirit in addressing such pressing societal concerns.
Reuters was rewarded for its investigative series examining the fentanyl saga, revealing regulatory gaps both in the U.S. and abroad that allow the drug’s low cost and accessibility. Additionally, inewsource.org based in San Diego was recognized as an illustrated reporting and commentary finalist for its comprehensive reports on fentanyl.
The New Yorker earned its awards with Mosab Abu Toha’s compelling commentaries on Gaza, their podcast “In the Dark” delving into the unjust killings of Iraqi civilians by U.S. forces, and a feature photography acknowledgment for Moises Saman’s work capturing life within Syria’s Sednaya prison.
The Wall Street Journal received distinction for its examinations of Elon Musk, addressing his conservative political shift, his substance use, and undisclosed discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with a finalist nod for coverage of Evan Gershkovich’s distressing imprisonment in Russia.
In recognition of a lifetime dedicated to civil rights journalism, a special citation was awarded posthumously to Chuck Stone for his trailblazing contributions as the first Black columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News and founder of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Other noteworthy winners included Mark Warren from Esquire for feature writing on a pastor and mayor’s suicide scandal, Alexandra Lange for her insightful critiques on family-oriented public spaces, and the Houston Chronicle team for editorial writing on hazardous train crossings.
The Associated Press was a contender in breaking news coverage of the Trump assassination plot, additionally highlighted for investigative reporting in collaboration with PBS FRONTLINE and partners, exploring over 1,000 non-lethal police interventions resulting in fatalities.