Pulitzers 2010

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The Best of American Journalism

News Note: The seven-reporter Briston (Va.) Herald Courier wins Pulitzer's top award for Public Service Reporting; Others include Washington Post (4), New York Times (3), and prizes for Web journalism.

“In the latter years of the 19th century, Joseph Pulitzer stood out as the very embodiment of American journalism. Hungarian-born, an intense indomitable figure, Pulitzer was the most skillful of newspaper publishers, a passionate crusader against dishonest government, a fierce, hawk-like competitor who did not shrink from sensationalism in circulation struggles, and a visionary who richly endowed his profession. His innovative New York World and St. Louis Post-Dispatch reshaped newspaper journalism. Pulitzer was the first to call for the training of journalists at the university level in a school of journalism. . . In writing his 1904 will, [Pulitzer] made provision for the establishment of the Pulitzer Prizes as an incentive to excellence.”

—Pulitzer website

Photo: Pulitzer-winner David Gilbert, left, who wrote the eight-part winner of the 2010 public service Pulitzer,
is toasted in the Bristol Herald Courier newsroom by publisher Carl Esposito
and managing editor J. Todd Foster. (David Crigger/MediaGeneral photo)

In Their Own Words . . .
• “A hell of an honor.”

—Daniel Gilbert, winner of the public service Pulitzer for the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier.

• “We’re so proud of the terrific, terrific journalism they do. They were able to give a voice to the voiceless, to give a voice to people who were too intimidated to speak out.”

—Brian Tierney, publisher of the Philadelphia Daily News, on reporters
Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman, who won the investigative reporting prize
for their work exposing a rogue police narcotics squad.

• “We’re here to take note of the fact that the death of journalism has been greatly exaggerated. It is alive and well and feisty, especially at The New York Times.”

—Bill Keller, executive editor of the Times, which won Pulitzers for national reporting, explanatory journalism and investigative reporting.

Editor’s Note: Great stuff.

More quotes—Associated Press URL
More Pulitzer Pix—HuffPost

Photo: Philadelphia Daily News reporters Wendy Ruderman, left, and Barbara Laker celebrate following the announcement that they won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. (AP Photo/Mark Stehle)

Today’s PeezPix: Rose Bouquet
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