For disinterested and meritorious public service rendered by a United States newspaper, published daily, Sunday or at least once a week, during the year, a gold medal.
Columbus (GA) Ledger and Sunday Ledger-Enquirer , by Columbus (GA) Ledger and Sunday Ledger-Enquirer
For its complete news coverage and fearless editorial attack on widespread corruption in neighboring Phenix City, Ala., which were effective in destroying a corrupt and racket-ridden city government. The newspaper exhibited an early awareness of the evils of lax law enforcement before the situation in Phenix City erupted into murder. It covered the whole unfolding story of the final prosecution of the wrong-doers with skill, perception, force and courage.
The Jury
The Jury
Carl E. Lindstrom
J.R. Wiggins
Winners in Public Service
Newsday
For its expose of New York State's race track scandals and labor racketeering, which led to the extortion indictment, guilty plea and imprisonment of William C. DeKoning, Sr., New York labor racketeer.
Whiteville News Reporter and Tabor City Tribune
For their successful campaign against the Ku Klux Klan, waged on their own doorstep at the risk of economic loss and personal danger, culminating in the conviction of over one hundred Klansmen and an end to terrorism in their communities.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
For its investigation and disclosures of wide spread corruption in the Internal Revenue Bureau and other departments of the government.
Miami Herald and Brooklyn Eagle
For their crime reporting during the year.
1955 Prize Winners
Daniel R. Fitzpatrick
For a cartoon published on June 8,1954 entitled, "How Would Another Mistake Help?" showing Uncle Sam, bayoneted rifle in hand, pondering whether to wade into a black marsh bearing the legend "French Mistakes in Indo-China." The award is also given for distinguished body of the work of Mr. Fitzpatrick in both 1954 and his entire career.
Royce Howes
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.