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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, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
Year
Winners
Finalists
2025

Raj Mankad, Sharon Steinmann, Lisa Falkenberg and Leah Binkovitz of the Houston Chronicle

For a powerful series on dangerous train crossings that kept a rigorous focus on the people and communities at risk as the newspaper demanded urgent action.
Finalists:
David Scharfenberg, Alan Wirzbicki and Marcela García of The Boston Globe
Opinion Staff of The New York Times, notably W. J. Hennigan and Kathleen Kingsbury
David Scharfenberg, Alan Wirzbicki and Marcela García of The Boston Globe

Opinion Staff of The New York Times, notably W. J. Hennigan and Kathleen Kingsbury

2024

David E. Hoffman of The Washington Post

For a compelling and well-researched series on new technologies and the tactics authoritarian regimes use to repress dissent in the digital age, and how they can be fought.
Finalists:
Isadora Rangel of the Miami Herald
Brandon McGinley and Rebecca Spiess of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Isadora Rangel of the Miami Herald

Brandon McGinley and Rebecca Spiess of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

2023

Miami Herald Editorial Board, for a series written by Amy Driscoll

Editorials on the failure of Florida public officials to deliver on many taxpayer-funded amenities and services promised to residents over decades.
Finalists:
Lisa Falkenberg, Joe Holley, Nick Powell and the late Michael Lindenberger of the Houston Chronicle
Alex Kingsbury of The New York Times
Lisa Falkenberg, Joe Holley, Nick Powell and the late Michael Lindenberger of the Houston Chronicle

Alex Kingsbury of The New York Times

2022

Lisa Falkenberg, Michael Lindenberger, Joe Holley and Luis Carrasco of the Houston Chronicle

For a campaign that, with original reporting, revealed voter suppression tactics, rejected the myth of widespread voter fraud and argued for sensible voting reforms.
Finalists:
Editorial Staff of The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate
Abdallah Fayyad of The Boston Globe
Editorial Staff of The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Abdallah Fayyad of The Boston Globe

2021

Robert Greene of the Los Angeles Times

For editorials on policing, bail reform, prisons and mental health that clearly and holistically examined the Los Angeles criminal justice system.
Finalists:
Alan Wirzbicki and Rachelle G. Cohen of The Boston Globe
Lee Hockstader of The Washington Post
Alan Wirzbicki and Rachelle G. Cohen of The Boston Globe

Lee Hockstader of The Washington Post

2020

Jeffery Gerritt of the Palestine (Tx.) Herald-Press

For editorials that exposed how pre-trial inmates died horrific deaths in a small Texas county jail—reflecting a rising trend across the state—and courageously took on the local sheriff and judicial establishment, which tried to cover up these needless tragedies.
Finalists:
Melinda Henneberger of The Kansas City Star
Jill Burcum of the Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn.
Melinda Henneberger of The Kansas City Star

Jill Burcum of the Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn.

2019

Brent Staples of The New York Times

For editorials written with extraordinary moral clarity that charted the racial fault lines in the United States at a polarizing moment in the nation’s history.
Finalists:
Editorial Staff of the Capital Gazette, Annapolis, Md.
Editorial Staff of The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
Editorial Staff of the Capital Gazette, Annapolis, Md.

Editorial Staff of The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.

2018

Andie Dominick of The Des Moines Register

For examining in a clear, indignant voice, free of cliché or sentimentality, the damaging consequences for poor Iowa residents of privatizing the state’s administration of Medicaid.
Finalists:
Kathleen Kingsbury, Jessia Ma, Matteen Mokalla and Stuart Thompson of The New York Times
Sharon Grigsby of The Dallas Morning News
Kathleen Kingsbury, Jessia Ma, Matteen Mokalla and Stuart Thompson of The New York Times

Sharon Grigsby of The Dallas Morning News

2017

Art Cullen of The Storm Lake Times, Storm Lake, IA

For editorials fueled by tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa.
Finalists:
Joe Holley and Evan Mintz of Houston Chronicle
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post
Joe Holley and Evan Mintz of Houston Chronicle

Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post

2016

John Hackworth and Brian Gleason of Sun Newspapers, Charlotte Harbor, FL

For fierce, indignant editorials that demanded truth and change after the deadly assault of an inmate by corrections officers.
Finalists:
Andrew Green, Tricia Bishop, Peter Jensen and Glenn McNatt of The Baltimore Sun
Editorial Board of The New York Times
Andrew Green, Tricia Bishop, Peter Jensen and Glenn McNatt of The Baltimore Sun

Editorial Board of The New York Times

2015

Kathleen Kingsbury of The Boston Globe

For taking readers on a tour of restaurant workers' bank accounts to expose the real price of inexpensive menu items and the human costs of income inequality.
Finalists:
Tony Messenger and Kevin Horrigan of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jill Burcum of Star-Tribune, Minneapolis
Tony Messenger and Kevin Horrigan of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jill Burcum of Star-Tribune, Minneapolis

2014

Editorial Staff of The Oregonian, Portland

For its lucid editorials that explain the urgent but complex issue of rising pension costs, notably engaging readers and driving home the link between necessary solutions and their impact on everyday lives.
Finalists:
Dante Ramos of The Boston Globe
Andie Dominick of The Des Moines Register
Dante Ramos of The Boston Globe

Andie Dominick of The Des Moines Register

2013

Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth of Tampa Bay Times

For their diligent campaign that helped reverse a decision to end fluoridation of the water supply for the 700,000 residents of the newspaper's home county
Finalists:
Staff of Newsday
Jackson Diehl of The Washington Post
Staff of Newsday

Jackson Diehl of The Washington Post

Paula Dwyer and Mark Whitehouse of Bloomberg News

Tim Nickens, Joni James, John Hill and Robyn Blumner of Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times

Aki Soga and Michael Townsend of Burlington (Vt.) Free Press

2011

Joseph Rago of The Wall Street Journal

For his well crafted, against-the-grain editorials challenging the health care reform advocated by President Obama.
Finalists:
Jackson Diehl of The Washington Post
John McCormick of Chicago Tribune
Jackson Diehl of The Washington Post

John McCormick of Chicago Tribune

2010

Tod Robberson, Colleen McCain Nelson and William McKenzie of The Dallas Morning News

For their relentless editorials deploring the stark social and economic disparity between the city's better-off northern half and distressed southern half.
Finalists:
John G. Carlton of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
John McCormick and Marie Dillon of Chicago Tribune
John G. Carlton of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

John McCormick and Marie Dillon of Chicago Tribune

2009

Mark Mahoney of The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

For his relentless, down-to-earth editorials on the perils of local government secrecy, effectively admonishing citizens to uphold their right to know.
Finalists:
Charles Lane of The Washington Post
John McCormick, Marie Dillon and Bruce Dold of Chicago Tribune
Charles Lane of The Washington Post

John McCormick, Marie Dillon and Bruce Dold of Chicago Tribune

Maureen Downey of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rodger Jones of The Dallas Morning News

Staff of Wisconsin State Journal

2007

Arthur Browne, Beverly Weintraub and Heidi Evans of New York Daily News

For their compassionate and compelling editorials on behalf of Ground Zero workers whose health problems were neglected by the city and the nation.
Finalists:
Jane Healy of The Orlando Sentinel
Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post
Jane Healy of The Orlando Sentinel

Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post

2006

Rick Attig and Doug Bates of The Oregonian, Portland

For their persuasive, richly reported editorials on abuses inside a forgotten Oregon mental hospital.
Finalists:
Editorial Board of The Birmingham (AL) News
B. Marie Harris, Tony Biffle and Stan Tiner of Sun Herald, Biloxi-Gulfport, MS
Editorial Board of The Birmingham (AL) News

B. Marie Harris, Tony Biffle and Stan Tiner of Sun Herald, Biloxi-Gulfport, MS

2005

Tom Philp of The Sacramento Bee

For his deeply researched editorials on reclaiming California's flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley that stirred action.
Finalists:
Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post
David Yarnold and Daniel Vasquez of The Mercury News, San Jose, CA
Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post

David Yarnold and Daniel Vasquez of The Mercury News, San Jose, CA

2004

William R. Stall of Los Angeles Times

For his incisive editorials that analyzed California's troubled state government, prescribed remedies and served as a model for addressing complex state issues.
Finalists:
Andrew Malcolm of Los Angeles Times
Andres Martinez of The New York Times
Andrew Malcolm of Los Angeles Times

Andres Martinez of The New York Times

2003

Cornelia Grumman of Chicago Tribune

For her powerful, freshly challenging editorials on reform of the death penalty.
Finalists:
Robert L. Pollock of The Wall Street Journal
Linda Valdez of The Arizona Republic Phoenix
Robert L. Pollock of The Wall Street Journal

Linda Valdez of The Arizona Republic Phoenix

2002

Alex Raksin and Bob Sipchen of Los Angeles Times

For their comprehensive and powerfully written editorials exploring the issues and dilemmas provoked by mentally ill people dwelling on the streets.
Finalists:
William H. Freivogel of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Staff of Philadelphia Daily News, Editorial Board
William H. Freivogel of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Staff of Philadelphia Daily News, Editorial Board

2001

David Moats of Rutland (VT) Herald

For his even-handed and influential series of editorials commenting on the divisive issues arising from civil unions for same-sex couples.
Finalists:
Laurie Roberts of The Arizona Republic Phoenix
Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times
Laurie Roberts of The Arizona Republic Phoenix

Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times

2000

John C. Bersia of The Orlando Sentinel

For his passionate editorial campaign attacking predatory lending practices in the state, which prompted changes in local lending regulations.
Finalists:
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post
Philip Kennicott of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post

Philip Kennicott of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

1999

Editorial Board of New York Daily News

For its effective campaign to rescue Harlem's Apollo Theatre from the financial mismanagement that threatened the landmark's survival.
Finalists:
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post
Lawrence C. Levy of Newsday, Long Island, NY
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post

Lawrence C. Levy of Newsday, Long Island, NY

1998

Bernard L. Stein of The Riverdale (NY) Press

For his gracefully-written editorials on politics and other issues affecting New York City residents.
Finalists:
George B. Pyle of Salina (KS) Journal
Clint Talbott of Colorado Daily, Boulder, CO
George B. Pyle of Salina (KS) Journal

Clint Talbott of Colorado Daily, Boulder, CO

1997

Michael Gartner of The Daily Tribune, Ames, Iowa

For his common sense editorials about issues deeply affecting the lives of people in his community.
Finalists:
Margaretta Downey of Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal
Peter Milius of The Washington Post
Margaretta Downey of Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal

Peter Milius of The Washington Post

Daniel P. Henninger of The Wall Street Journal

N. Don Wycliff of Chicago Tribune

Bailey Thomson, Carol McPhail and David Thomasson of Mobile (AL) Press Register

Editorial Staff of The Des Moines (Iowa) Register

1994

R. Bruce Dold of Chicago Tribune

For his series of editorials deploring the murder of a 3-year-old boy by his abusive mother and decrying the Illinois child welfare system.
Finalists:
Jim Montgomery of Shreveport (LA) Journal
Editorial Board of Birmingham (AL) News
Jim Montgomery of Shreveport (LA) Journal

Editorial Board of Birmingham (AL) News

1992

Maria Henson of Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader

For her editorials about battered women in Kentucky, which focused statewide attention on the problem and prompted significant reforms.
Finalists:
Robert J. Gaydos of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, NY
Henry Bryan of The Philadelphia Inquirer
Robert J. Gaydos of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, NY

Henry Bryan of The Philadelphia Inquirer

1991

Ron Casey, Harold Jackson and Joey Kennedy of The Birmingham (AL) News

For their editorial campaign analyzing inequities in Alabama's tax system and proposing needed reforms.
Finalists:
Seth Lipsky of Forward, a New York City weekly
Martin F. Nolan of The Boston Globe
Seth Lipsky of Forward, a New York City weekly

Martin F. Nolan of The Boston Globe

1990

Thomas J. Hylton of The Pottstown (PA) Mercury

For his editorials about a local bond issue for the preservation of farmland and other open space in rural Pennsylvania.
Finalists:
David C. Anderson of The New York Times
Leonard Morris of News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN
David C. Anderson of The New York Times

Leonard Morris of News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN

Bill Bishop of Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader

Editorial Board of The New York Times

1988

Jane Healy of Orlando Sentinel

For her series of editorials protesting overdevelopment of Florida's Orange County.
Finalists:
Bernard L. Stein of The Riverdale Press, Bronx, NY
Joe Dolman of The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Bernard L. Stein of The Riverdale Press, Bronx, NY

Joe Dolman of The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

1987

Jonathan Freedman of The Tribune, San Diego, CA

For his editorials urging passage of the first major immigration reform act in 34 years.
Finalists:
Bernard L. Stein of The Riverdale Press
Daniel P. Henninger of The Wall Street Journal
Bernard L. Stein of The Riverdale Press

Daniel P. Henninger of The Wall Street Journal

Paul Greenberg of Pine Bluff (AR) Commercial

Larry Hayes, David Berry and Barbara O. Morrow of Fort Wayne (IN) Journal-Gazette

Jane Healy of Orlando (FL) Sentinel

David E. Gillespie of News and Observer, Raleigh, NC

Ralph Bennett, Jonathan Freedman and Lynne Carrier of San Diego Tribune

Lois Wille of Chicago Sun-Times

1983

Editorial Board of The Miami Herald

For its campaign against the detention of illegal Haitian immigrants by federal officials.
Finalists:
Ralph B. Bennett and Jonathan Freedman of San Diego Tribune
Marvin Seid of Los Angeles Times
Ralph B. Bennett and Jonathan Freedman of San Diego Tribune

Marvin Seid of Los Angeles Times

Richard C. McCord of Santa Fe Reporter

Joe H. Stroud of Detroit Free Press

John Alexander of Greensboro (NC) Daily News

Alfred Ames and Joan Beck of Chicago Tribune

Bruce C. Davidson, Thomas N. Oliphant and Anne C. Wyman of The Boston Globe

Tom Dearmore of San Francisco Examiner

1978

Meg Greenfield of The Washington Post

For selected samples of her work.
Finalists:
1977

Warren L. Lerude, Foster Church and Norman F. Cardoza of Reno (Nev.) Evening Gazette and Nevada State Journal

For editorials challenging the power of a local brothel keeper.
Finalists:
1976

Philip P. Kerby of Los Angeles Times

For his editorials against government secrecy and judicial censorship.
Finalists:
1975

John Daniell Maurice of Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

For his editorials about the Kanawha County schoolbook controversy.
Finalists:
1974

F. Gilman Spencer of The Trentonian, Trenton, NJ

For his courageous campaign to focus public attention on scandals in New Jersey's state government.
Finalists:
1973

Roger B. Linscott of Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

For his editorials during 1972.
Finalists:
1972

John Strohmeyer of Bethlehem (PA) Globe-Times

For his editorial campaign to reduce racial tensions in Bethlehem.
Finalists:
1971

Horance G. Davis Jr. of The Gainesville (FL) Sun

For his editorials in support of the peaceful desegregation of Florida's schools.
Finalists:
1970

Philip L. Geyelin of The Washington Post

For his editorials during 1969.
Finalists:
1969

Paul Greenberg of Pine Bluff (AR) Commercial

For his editorials during 1968.
Finalists:
1968

John S. Knight of Knight Newspapers

For his distinguished editorial writing.
Finalists:
1967

Eugene Patterson of The Atlanta Constitution

For his editorials during the year.
Finalists:
1966

Robert Lasch of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For his distinguished editorial writing in 1965.
Finalists:
1965

John R. Harrison of Gainesville (FL) Sun

For his successful editorial campaign for better housing in his city.
Finalists:
1964

Hazel Brannon Smith of Lexington (MS) Advertiser

For steadfast adherence to her editorial duty in the face of great pressure and opposition.
Finalists:
1963

Ira B. Harkey of Pascagoula (MS) Chronicle

For his courageous editorials devoted to the processes of law and reason during the integration crisis in Mississippi in 1962.
Finalists:
1962

Thomas M. Storke of Santa Barbara (CA) News-Press

For his forceful editorials calling public attention to the activities of a semi-secret organization known as the John Birch Society.
Finalists:
1961

William J. Dorvillier of San Juan (Puerto Rico) Star

For his editorials on clerical interference in the 1960 gubernatorial election in Puerto Rico.
Finalists:
1960

Lenoir Chambers of Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

For his series of editorials on the school integration problem in Virginia, as exemplified by "The Year the Schools Closed," published January 1, 1959, and "The Year the Schools Opened," published December 31, 1959.
Finalists:
1959

Ralph McGill of The Atlanta (GA) Constitution

For his distinguished editorial writing during 1958 as exemplified in his editorial "A Church, A School...." and for his long, courageous and effective editorial leadership.
Finalists:
1958

Harry S. Ashmore of Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, AR

For the forcefulness, dispassionate analysis and clarity of his editorials on the school integration conflict in Little Rock.
Finalists:
1957

Buford Boone of Tuscaloosa (AL) News

For his fearless and reasoned editorials in a community inflamed by a segregation issue, an outstanding example of his work being the editorial entitled, "What a Price for Peace," published on February 7,1956.
Finalists:
1956

Lauren K. Soth of Register and Tribune, Des Moines, IA

For the editorial inviting a farm delegation from the Soviet Union to visit Iowa, which led directly to the Russian farm visit to the U.S..
Finalists:
1955

Royce Howes of Detroit Free Press

For an editorial on "The Cause of a Strike," impartially and clearly analyzing the responsibility of both labor and management for a local union's unauthorized strike in July, 1954, which rendered 45,000 Chrysler Corporation workers idle and unpaid. By pointing out how and why the parent United Automobile Workers' Union ordered the local strike called off and stating that management let dissatisfaction get out of hand, the editorial made a notable contribution to public understanding of the whole program of the respective responsibilities and relationships of labor and management in this field.
Finalists:
1954

Don Murray of Boston Herald

For a series of editorials on the "New Look" in National Defense which won wide attention for their analysis of changes in American military policy.
Finalists:
1953

Vermont Connecticut Royster of The Wall Street Journal

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1952

Louis LaCoss of St. Louis Globe Democrat

For his editorial entitled, "The Low Estate of Public Morals."
Finalists:
1951

William Harry Fitzpatrick of New Orleans States

For his series of editorials analyzing and clarifying a very important constitutional issue, which is described by the general heading of the series, "Government by Treaty."
Finalists:
1950

Carl M. Saunders of Jackson (MI) Citizen Patriot

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1949

Herbert Elliston of The Washington Post

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.

John H. Crider of The Boston Herald

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1948

Virginius Dabney of Richmond Times-Dispatch

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1947

William H. Grimes of The Wall Street Journal

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1946

Hodding Carter of The Delta Democrat-Times, Greenville, MS

For a group of editorials published during the year 1945 on the subject of racial, religious and economic intolerance, as exemplified by the editorial "Go for Broke."
Finalists:
1945

George W. Potter of The Providence Journal-Bulletin

For his editorials published during the calendar year 1944, especially for his editorials on the subject of freedom of the press.
Finalists:
1944

Henry J. Haskell of Kansas City (MO) Star

For editorials written during the calendar year 1943.
Finalists:
1943

Forrest W. Seymour of Register and Tribune, Des Moines, IA

For his editorials published during the calendar year 1942.
Finalists:
1942

Geoffrey Parsons of New York Herald Tribune

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1941

Reuben Maury of New York Daily News

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1940

Bart Howard of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1939

Ronald G. Callvert of The Oregonian, Portland, OR

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year as exemplified by the editorial entitled "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
Finalists:
1938

William Wesley Waymack of Register and Tribune, Des Moines, IA

For his distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1937

John W. Owens of The Baltimore Sun

For distinguished editorial writing during the year.
Finalists:
1934

E. P. Chase of Atlantic (IA) News-Telegraph

For an editorial entitled, "Where is Our Money ?"
Finalists:
1933

No author named of Kansas City (MO) Star

For its series of editorials on national and international topics.
Finalists:
1931

Charles S. Ryckman of Fremont (NE) Tribune

For the editorial entitled "The Gentleman from Nebraska."
Finalists:
1929

Louis Isaac Jaffe of Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

For his editorial entitled "An Unspeakable Act of Savagery," which is typical of a series of articles written on the lynching evil and in successful advocacy of legislation to prevent it.
Finalists:
1928

Grover Cleveland Hall of Montgomery (AL) Advertiser

For his editorials against gangsterism, floggings and racial and religious intolerance.
Finalists:
1927

F. Lauriston Bullard of Boston Herald

For the editorial entitled, "We Submit."
Finalists:
1926

Edward M. Kingsbury of The New York Times

For the editorial entitled "House of a Hundred Sorrows."
Finalists:
1925

No author named of Charleston (SC) News and Courier

For the editorial entitled "Plight of the South."
Finalists:
1924

The Boston Herald

For an editorial entitled "Who Made Coolidge?"

Frank I. Cobb of New York World

A special prize of $1000 was awarded to the widow of Frank I. Cobb in recognition of the distinction of her husband's editorial writing and service.
Finalists:
1923

William Allen White of Emporia (KS) Gazette

For an editorial entitled "To an Anxious Friend."
Finalists:
1922

Frank M. O'Brien of New York Herald

For an article entitled, "The Unknown Soldier."
Finalists:
1920

Harvey E. Newbranch of Evening World Herald, Omaha, NE

For an editorial entitled "Law and the Jungle."
Finalists:
1918

No author named of Louisville Courier Journal

For the editorial article, "Vae Victis!" and the editorial, "War Has Its Compensation."
Finalists:
1917

New York Tribune

For an editorial article on the first anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania. (No author named.)
Finalists:
Criticism
Editorial Cartooning