For a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
Photography Staff of Associated Press
For a collection of photographs from multiple U.S. cities that cohesively captures the country's response to the death of George Floyd.
Staff member Julio Cortez accepts the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger as Pulitzer Prize Administrator Marjorie Miller looks on. (Jose Lopez/The Pulitzer Prizes)
Winning Work
Finalists
Nominated as finalists in Breaking News Photography in 2021:
Hassan Ammar, Hussein Malla and Felipe Dana of Associated Press
For a series of images documenting the uncertainty and devastation following a seaport blast that rocked Beirut.
Joshua Irwandi, freelance photographer, National Geographic
For a starkly haunting photograph of a solitary coronavirus victim in an Indonesian hospital, wrapped in plastic and awaiting a body bag.
The Jury
The Jury
Marcia L. Allert(Chair)
Director, Visual Journalism, The Dallas Morning News
Daniel Berehulak*
Photojournalist, Mexico City
Robert Cohen
Staff Photojournalist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lance Esplund
Art Critic, The Wall Street Journal
Carol Guzy*
Independent Photojournalist, Arlington, Va.
Winners in Breaking News Photography
Photography Staff of Reuters
For wide-ranging and illuminating photographs of Hong Kong as citizens protested infringement of their civil liberties and defended the region’s autonomy by the Chinese government.
Photography Staff of Reuters
For a vivid and startling visual narrative of the urgency, desperation and sadness of migrants as they journeyed to the U.S. from Central and South America.
Ryan Kelly of The Daily Progress
For a chilling image that reflected the photographer’s reflexes and concentration in capturing the moment of impact of a car attack during a racially charged protest in Charlottesville, Va.
Daniel Berehulak, freelance photographer
For powerful storytelling through images published in The New York Times showing the callous disregard for human life in the Philippines brought about by a government assault on drug dealers and users. (Moved into this category from Feature Photography by the nominating jury.)
2021 Prize Winners
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.
Wesley Morris of The New York Times
For unrelentingly relevant and deeply engaged criticism on the intersection of race and culture in America, written in a singular style, alternately playful and profound.
Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
For penetrating and historically insightful columns that guided Richmond, a former capital of the Confederacy, through the painful and complicated process of dismantling the city's monuments to white supremacy.
Nadja Drost, freelance contributor, The California Sunday Magazine
For a brave and gripping account of global migration that documents a group’s journey on foot through the Darién Gap, one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world.














