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The 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Explanatory Reporting

Finalist: Megha Rajagopalan, Alison Killing and Christo Buschek of BuzzFeed News

For a series of clear and compelling stories that used satellite imagery and architectural expertise, as well as interviews with two dozen former prisoners, to identify a vast new infrastructure built by the Chinese government for the mass detention of Muslims. (Moved by the Board to the International Reporting category, where it was also entered.)

Nominated Work

Biography

Megha Rajagopalan is an award-winning international correspondent for BuzzFeed News, based in London. She has been a staff correspondent for BuzzFeed News based in China and Thailand as well as in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and before that she was a political correspondent for Reuters in China. She has reported from 23 countries in Asia and the Middle East on stories ranging from the North Korean nuclear crisis to the peace process in Afghanistan. Her work has been translated into 7 languages, been taught in classrooms at Columbia and NYU, and was anthologized in 2018's What Future: The Year's Best Writing on What's Next for People, Technology, and the Planet.

Alison Killing is a licensed architect and geospatial analyst who uses maps and data to investigate urgent social issues.

Christo Buschek is a programmer and digital security trainer. He builds tools tailored for data journalists and human rights defenders.
 

Winners

Prize Winner in Explanatory Reporting in 2021:

Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley, Andrea Januta, Jaimi Dowdell and Jackie Botts of Reuters

For an exhaustive examination, powered by a pioneering data analysis of U.S. federal court cases, of the obscure legal doctrine of “qualified immunity” and how it shields police who use excessive force from prosecution. Explanatory Reporting

The Jury

Scott Kraft(Chair)

Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times

Anica Butler

Deputy Managing Editor, Local News, The Boston Globe

Jeanne Cummings

Deputy Washington Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal

Lauren Gustus

Executive Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune

David Kocieniewski*

Investigative Reporter, Bloomberg News/Businessweek

Madhulika Sikka

Vice President/Executive Editor, Crown Publishing

Steve Suo

Data Director, USA Today

Winners in Explanatory Reporting

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.
See All Explanatory Reporting

2021 Prize Winners

See All 2021 Winners