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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, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

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.

Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley and Andrea Januta accept a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger. (Jose Lopez/The Pulitzer Prizes)

Winning Work

May 8, 2020
November 20, 2020
December 23, 2020

Biography

Andrew Chung is a correspondent at Reuters covering the Supreme Court and related issues. Andrew joined Reuters in 2014 after more than a decade at the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper, where he reported both domestically and internationally and was most recently the Quebec Bureau Chief. Along with his colleagues his work on major projects has been recognized with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Deadline Club award, the AAAS Kavli science journalism gold award, and Canada’s National Newspaper Award. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Alberta, a master’s degree in journalism from Carleton University and a Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School.

Lawrence Hurley has covered the Supreme Court and related issues for Reuters since 2013. He has written about legal affairs for the bulk of his 22 years as a reporter.

Andrea Januta is an investigative and data reporter with Reuters in New York. Her work has focused on the court system, policing and the U.S. military. In 2018, she was part of a Hillman Prize-winning series exposing health and safety hazards in military housing that led to three federal investigations, a $386 million emergency inspection program, widespread repairs, congressional hearings and new legislation. Before working in journalism, she was a data analyst at Goldman Sachs.

Jaimi Dowdell is a data journalist with Reuters. Previously she was training director for Investigative Reporters and Editors. During that time, she trained thousands of journalists around the world in document- and data-driven reporting. In 2016, she received the Spotlight Fellowship for Investigative Reporting. She has a master's degree from the University of Missouri.

Jackie Botts covers income inequality and economic survival for CalMatters and the The California Divide media collaboration. She previously reported for the Data and Enterprise desk for Reuters News and for her hometown paper, The Santa Barbara Independent. Her coverage of immigration, the environment and justice has also appeared in Pacific Standard, Public Radio International’s “The World” and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among other publications. She is a Report for America corps member and a graduate of Stanford University’s master’s program in journalism.

Finalists

Nominated as finalists in Explanatory Reporting in 2021:

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.)

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

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.

2021 Prize Winners