Pulitzer

Pulitzer commonly refers to Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-born American publisher whose endowment established the Pulitzer Prizes. Pulitzer built a fortune in the American newspaper industry, notably as proprietor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World, and used his will to promote excellence in journalism and letters. The prizes were established by his 1904 will and first awarded in 1917 in categories for journalism, letters, drama, and music.

Administration: The prizes are overseen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, a private panel of editors, academics, and writers, and are administered through the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City, which coordinates the prize process and public announcements.

Categories: The awards recognize work across journalism (such as Public Service, Investigative Reporting, and Feature Writing) and in letters, drama, and music (including Fiction, Biography or Autobiography, Poetry, Drama, and Music). A separate Pulitzer Prize for Music was added in 1943.

Process: A series of juries appointed by the Pulitzer Prize Board review eligible work from the judging year; the Board makes the final selections. Winners are announced in the spring, and prizes are presented at a ceremony in New York City.

Significance: The Pulitzers are among the most prestigious honors in American journalism and letters, with a longstanding influence on media, culture, and the arts. They have highlighted landmark reporting, literary achievements, and musical compositions, while also generating debate over judging criteria and coverage priorities.