Editing Pulitzer Prize (section)

==Categories==
{{Pulitzer}}
Awards are made in categories relating to journalism, arts, letters and fiction. Reports and photographs by [[List of all newspapers in the United States|United States–based newspapers]], [[List of United States magazines|magazines]] and [[News agency|news organizations]] (including news websites) that "[publish] regularly"<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 Journalism Submission Guidelines, Requirements and FAQs|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/page/2017-journalism-submission-guidelines-requirements-and-faqs|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref> are eligible for the journalism prize. [[2007 Pulitzer Prize|Beginning in 2007]], "an assortment of online elements will be permitted in all journalism categories except for the competition's two photography categories, which will continue to restrict entries to still images."<ref name=beatlocal>{{cite press release| title = Pulitzer Board Widens Range of Online Journalism in Entries| work = The Pulitzer Prizes| publisher = Columbia University| date = November 27, 2006| url = https://www.pulitzer.org/onlinepressrelease| access-date = April 12, 2010}}</ref> In December 2008, it was announced that for the first time content published in online-only news sources would be considered.<ref>{{cite press release| title = Pulitzer Prizes Broadened to Include Online-Only Publications Primarily Devoted to Original News Reporting| work = The Pulitzer Prizes| publisher = Columbia University| date = December 8, 2008| url = https://www.pulitzer.org/new_eligibility_rules| access-date = April 12, 2010}}</ref>

Although certain winners with magazine affiliations (most notably [[Moneta Sleet, Jr.|Moneta Sleet Jr.]]) were allowed to enter the competition due to eligible partnerships or concurrent publication of their work in newspapers, the Pulitzer Prize Advisory Board and the eventual Pulitzer Prize Board historically resisted the admission of magazines into the competition, resulting in the formation of the [[National Magazine Awards]] at the Columbia Journalism School in 1966.

In 2015, magazines were allowed to enter for the first time in two categories (Investigative Reporting and Feature Writing). By 2016, this provision had expanded to three additional categories ([[Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting|International Reporting]], [[Pulitzer Prize for Criticism|Criticism]] and [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning|Editorial Cartooning]]).<ref>{{cite press release|date=October 26, 2015|title=Expanded eligibility for three journalism categories|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/news/expanded-eligibility-three-journalism-categories|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref> That year, [[Kathryn Schulz]] (Feature Writing) and [[Emily Nussbaum]] (Criticism) of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' became the first magazine affiliates to receive the prize under the expanded eligibility criterion.<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 Pulitzer Prizes|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2016|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2016, magazine eligibility was extended to all journalism categories.<ref>{{cite press release|date=October 18, 2016|title=Pulitzer Prizes open all journalism categories to magazines|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/news/pulitzer-prizes-open-all-journalism-categories-magazines|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref> Hitherto confined to the local reporting of breaking news, the [[Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting|Breaking News Reporting]] category was expanded to encompass all domestic breaking news events in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/news/pulitzer-board-expands-eligibility-breaking-news-prize-category|title=Pulitzer Board Expands Eligibility in Breaking News Prize Category|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|date=December 4, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

Definitions of Pulitzer Prize categories as presented in the December 2017 Plan of Award:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/page/2017-plan-award|title=2020 Plan of Award|work=The Pulitzer Prizes|publisher=Columbia University|date=August 2020|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service|Public Service]] – for a distinguished example of meritorious [[public service]] by a newspaper, magazine or news site through the use of its journalistic resources, including the use of stories, editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics, videos, databases, multimedia or interactive presentations or other visual material. Often thought of as the grand prize, and mentioned first in listings of the journalism prizes, the Public Service award is only given to the winning news organization. Alone among the Pulitzer Prizes, it is awarded in the form of a gold medal.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting|Breaking News Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of local, state or national reporting of [[breaking news]] that, as quickly as possible, captures events accurately as they occur, and, as time passes, illuminates, provides context and expands upon the initial coverage.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting|Investigative Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of [[investigative reporting]], using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting|Explanatory Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of [[explanatory reporting]] that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation, using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting|Local Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of reporting on significant issues of local concern, demonstrating originality and community expertise, using any available journalistic tool.<ref name=beatlocal/>
* [[Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting|National Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting|International Reporting]] – for a distinguished example of reporting on [[international relations|international affairs]], using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing|Feature Writing]] – for distinguished feature writing giving prime consideration to quality of writing, originality and concision, using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Commentary|Commentary]] – for distinguished commentary, using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Criticism|Criticism]] – for distinguished [[criticism]], using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing|Editorial Writing]] – for distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction, using any available journalistic tool.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning|Editorial Cartooning]] – for a distinguished [[cartoon]] or portfolio of cartoons, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, published as a still drawing, animation or both.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography|Breaking News Photography]], previously called [[Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography|Spot News Photography]] – for a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography|Feature Photography]] – for a distinguished example of feature photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs.

There are seven categories in letters and drama:
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography|Biography]] – for a distinguished biography, autobiography or memoir by an American author.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Drama]] – for a distinguished play by an American playwright, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Fiction|Fiction]] – for distinguished fiction by an [[American literature|American author]], preferably dealing with American life.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction|General Nonfiction]] – for a distinguished and appropriately documented book of [[nonfiction]] by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for History|History]] – for a distinguished and appropriately documented book on the [[history of the United States]].
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Memoir or Autobiography|Memoir or Autobiography]] – for a distinguished and factual memoir or autobiography by an American author.
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Poetry|Poetry]] – for a distinguished volume of original verse by an [[American poetry|American poet]].

In 2020, the [[Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting|Audio Reporting]] category was added. The first prize in this category was awarded to "The Out Crowd", an episode of the public radio program ''[[This American Life]]''. In the second year, the Pulitzer was awarded for the [[NPR]] [[podcast]] ''No Compromise''.<ref>Audio Reporting: Winners 2020–2022, The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved March 6, 2023.[https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-category/631]</ref>

There is one prize given for music:
* [[Pulitzer Prize for Music]] – for distinguished [[Music of the United States|musical composition by an American]] that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year.

There have been dozens of [[Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards|Special Citations and Awards]]: more than ten each in Arts, Journalism, and Letters, and five for Pulitzer Prize service, most recently to [[Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.]] in 1987.

In addition to the prizes, Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships are awarded to four outstanding students of the Graduate School of Journalism as selected by the faculty.

===Changes to categories===
Over the years, awards have been discontinued either because the field of the award has been expanded to encompass other areas; the award has been renamed because the common terminology changed; or the award has become obsolete, such as the prizes for [[telegraph]]ic reporting.<!--based on the means of reporting, & telegram simply redirects-->

An example of a writing field that has been expanded was the former Pulitzer Prize for the Novel (awarded 1918–1947), which has been changed to the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, which also includes [[short story|short stories]], [[novella]]s, [[Novella|novelettes]], and poetry, as well as novels.
{{Chronology of Pulitzer Prize categories}}<!--to edit/update this table you have to go to [[Template:Chronology of Pulitzer Prize categories]].-->