NEW YORK – The Wall Street Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday, including the public service award for its coverage of the stock-options scandal that rattled corporate America in 2006. The Associated Press captured one for breaking news photography for a picture of a Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces in the West Bank.
The Journal, the only multiple winner this year, also won in international reporting for its coverage of how capitalism is emerging in China.
The staff of the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., won for breaking news for its reporting on the San Francisco family that disappeared in the mountains during a blizzard. James Kim and his family took a wrong turn while returning home to San Francisco after a Thanksgiving trip. Kim was found dead of exposure after his wife and two young daughters were rescued. The judges praised the newspaper for its “skillful and tenacious coverage … telling the tragic story both in print and online.”
“Our thoughts today are with the Kim family, for, as our reporting showed, this is a tragic accident that might have been avoided,” said Executive Editor Peter Bhatia.
Kenneth R. Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis of the Los Angeles Times won for explanatory reporting for their reports on the world’s distressed oceans. The judges also praised their print and online stories.
Brett Blackledge of the Birmingham News of Alabama won for investigative reporting for his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state’s two-year college system. The stories resulted in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action, the Pulitzer Board noted. The stories also were a finalist in the public service category, but were moved.
In awarding the public service prize to the Journal, the judges cited its “creative and comprehensive probe into backdated stock options of business executives that triggered investigations, the ouster of top officials and widespread change in corporate America.”
The other finalist for public service was the Washington Post for its examination of waste and abuse in the nation’s farm subsidy system.
Charlie Savage of the Boston Globe won for national reporting for his revelations that President Bush often used “signing statements” to assert his controversial right to bypass provisions of new laws.
Debbie Cenziper of the Miami Herald was honored for local reporting for reports on waste, favoritism and lack of oversight at the Miami housing agency.
Andrea Elliott of the New York Times won for feature writing for coverage of an immigrant imam striving to serve his faithful in America.
The Daily News of New York was honored for editorial writing for its editorials on behalf of Ground Zero workers.
Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution won for commentary.
Newsday’s Walt Handelsman was honored for editorial cartooning.
Jonathan Gold of the LA Weekly was cited for criticism for his restaurant reviews.
The AP’s Oded Balilty won for breaking news photography for his image of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank. It was the AP’s 49th Pulitzer and the 30th awarded for photos.
Renee C. Byer of the Sacramento Bee was honored for feature photography for her portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with cancer.
