Ida B. Wells
For her outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching. The citation comes with a bequest by the Pulitzer Prize Board of at least $50,000 in support of her mission. The grant was given to the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting (co-founded by 2020 Commentary winner Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ron Nixon, 2022 Local Reporting winner Corey Johnson and Topher Sanders in 2015), which in turn decided to contribute it to the Ida B. Wells Scholarship Fund at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism of the City University of New York.
Dan Duster (a great-grandson of Ida B. Wells) accepts the Special Citation from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger on behalf of his family. (Jose Lopez/The Pulitzer Prizes)
Winners in Special Citations and Awards
Capital Gazette, Annapolis, Md.
A special citation to honor the journalists, staff and editorial board of the Capital Gazette, Annapolis, Maryland, for their courageous response to the largest killing of journalists in U.S. history in their newsroom on June 28, 2018, and for demonstrating unflagging commitment to covering the news and serving their community at a time of unspeakable grief. The citation comes with a $100,000 bequest by the Pulitzer Board to be used to further the newspaper’s journalistic mission.
2020 Prize Winners
Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times
For a sweeping, provocative and personal essay for the ground-breaking 1619 Project, which seeks to place the enslavement of Africans at the center of America’s story, prompting public conversation about the nation’s founding and evolution.
Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times
For work demonstrating extraordinary community service by a critic, applying his expertise and enterprise to critique a proposed overhaul of the L.A. County Museum of Art and its effect on the institution’s mission.
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.
Staff of The Washington Post
For a groundbreaking series that showed with scientific clarity the dire effects of extreme temperatures on the planet.