The Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting has been presented since 1998, for a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation. From 1985 to 1997, it was known as the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism.
Pulitzer Prize medal
The Pulitzer Prize Board announced the new category in November 1984, citing a series of explanatory articles that seven months earlier had won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. The series, "Making It Fly" by Peter RinearsonofThe Seattle Times, was a 29,000-word account of the development of the Boeing 757 jetliner. It had been entered in the National Reporting category, but judges moved it to Feature Writing to award it a prize. In the aftermath, the Pulitzer Prize Board said it was creating the new category in part because of the ambiguity about where explanatory accounts such as "Making It Fly" should be recognized. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.
1986: Staff of The New York Times, "for a six-part comprehensive series on the Strategic Defense Initiative, which explored the scientific, political and foreign policy issues involved in 'Star Wars.'"
1996:Laurie Garrett, Newsday, "for her courageous reporting from Zaire on the Ebola virus outbreak there." (The winner was nominated in the International Reporting category but moved by the Pulitzer Prize Board to Explanatory Journalism.)
1999:Richard Read, The Oregonian, "for vividly illustrating the domestic impact of the Asian economic crisis by profiling the local industry that exports frozen french fries."
2003: Staff of The Wall Street Journal, "for its clear, concise and comprehensive stories that illuminated the roots, significance and impact of corporate scandals in the US. This was originally nominated in the Public Service category, but was moved by the jury."
2008:Amy HarmonofThe New York Times, "for her striking examination of the dilemmas and ethical issues that accompany DNA testing, using human stories to sharpen her reports."
2009:Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart of the Los Angeles Times, "for their fresh and painstaking exploration into the cost and effectiveness of attempts to combat the growing menace of wildfires across the western United States."
2010:Michael Moss and members of The New York Times staff "for relentless reporting on contaminated hamburger and other food safety issues."
2012:David KocieniewskiofThe New York Times "for his lucid series that penetrated a legal thicket to explain how the nation’s wealthiest citizens and corporations often exploited loopholes and avoided taxes."
2014:Eli SaslowofThe Washington Post "for his unsettling and nuanced reporting on the prevalence of food stamps in post-recession US, forcing readers to grapple with issues of poverty and dependency."[1]
2015:Zachary R. MiderofBloomberg News "for a painstaking, clear and entertaining explanation of how so many U.S. corporations dodge taxes and why lawmakers and regulators have a hard time stopping them."[2]
2018: Staffs of The Arizona Republic and USA Today Network, for "vivid and timely reporting that masterfully combined text, video, podcasts and virtual reality to examine, from multiple perspectives, the difficulties and unintended consequences of fulfilling President Trump's pledge to construct a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico."
2019:David Barstow, Susanne Craig and Russ BuettnerofThe New York Times for "an exhaustive 18-month investigation of President Donald Trump’s finances that debunked his claims of self-made wealth and revealed a business empire riddled with tax dodges."
2024:Sarah StillmanofThe New Yorker, "for a searing indictment of our legal system’s reliance on the felony murder charge and its disparate consequences, often devastating for communities of color."[7]
