The New York Timeswon a record seven Pulitzer Prizes, including the public service award for "A Nation Challenged," a daily stand-alone section on the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan.
The Washington Postand the Los Angeles Timeseach won two of American journalism's most prestigious awards in a year when eight of the 14 prizes went to coverage of the attacks and their aftermath. In awarding the public service prize, the Pulitzer Board said The New York Times"coherently and comprehensively covered the tragic events, profiled the victims and tracked the developing story, locally and globally." In reporting of breaking news, the staff of The Wall Street Journalwon for its coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Centre under the most difficult of circumstances, when the newsroom blocks from the twin towers was forced to evacuate. In investigative reporting, three writers for The Washington Postwon for a series that exposed the District of Columbia's role in the neglect and deaths of 229 children placed in protective care. The staff of The New York Timeswon the explanatory reporting award for its coverage before and after the September 11 attacks that profiled the global terrorism network and the threats it posed. For beat reporting, Ms Gretchen Morgenson of The New York Timeswon for her coverage of Wall Street that the judges called "trenchant and incisive." For national reporting, the staff of The Washington Postwon for comprehensive coverage of the war on terrorism. In international reporting, Mr Barry Bearak of The New York Timeswon for what the Pulitzer Board called his "deeply affecting and illuminating coverage" of daily life in war-torn Afghanistan. The New York Timesalso won both photography awards. The breaking news award was for coverage of the September 11 attacks and their impact on New York. The feature award was for photographs chronicling the "pain and perseverance" of the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In commentary, Mr Thomas Friedman of The New York Timeswon for his columns on the world-wide impact of the terrorist threat.