For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources which may include editorials, cartoons, and photographs, as well as reporting, a gold medal.
The Denver Post , by The Denver Post
For its in-depth study of "missing children," which revealed that most are involved in custody disputes or are runaways, and which helped mitigate national fears stirred by exaggerated statistics.
Finalists
Nominated as finalists in Public Service in 1986:
Staff
For its coverage of the crash of Delta flight 191 on August 2, 1985, and the resultant series, "How Safe are the Skies?," which examined air traffic safety in the United States and found it wanting.
Staff
For its investigation into allegations of systematic and widespread torture of prison inmates by jailers in the Jackson County Jail in Marianna, Florida, which resulted in the indictment of seven prison guards.
The Jury
The Jury
Arthur Gelb(Chair)
Deputy Managing Editor, The New York Times
John M. Crewdson*
West Coast Correspondent, Chicago Tribune
Sara Engram
Deputy Editor, Editorial Page, Baltimore Evening Sun
Heath J. Meriwether
Executive Editor, Miami Herald
Acel Moore*
Associate Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Winners in Public Service
Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram
For reporting by Mark J. Thompson which revealed that nearly 250 U.S. servicemen had lost their lives as a result of a design problem in helicopters built by Bell Helicopter -a revelation which ultimately led the Army to ground almost 600 Huey helicopters pending their modification.
Los Angeles Times
For an in-depth examination of southern California's growing Latino community by a team of editors and reporters.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger
For its successful campaign supporting Governor Winter in his legislative battle for reform of Mississippi's public education system.
The Detroit News
For a series by Sydney P. Freedberg and David Ashenfelter which exposed the U.S. Navy's cover-up of circumstances surrounding the deaths of seamen aboard ship and which led to significant reforms in naval procedures.
1986 Prize Winners
Jimmy Breslin
For columns which consistently champion ordinary citizens.
Donal Henahan
For his music criticism.