By Imran Malik | MediaBites
The 2025 Pulitzer Prizes were announced on May 5, 2025, honoring outstanding achievements in journalism, literature, and the arts. The awards, established in 1917 by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, are administered by Columbia University and are considered among the most prestigious recognitions in their respective fields.
Journalism Highlights
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The New York Times led with four awards, including honors for international and explanatory reporting in Afghanistan and Sudan, and local reporting on Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis in collaboration with The Baltimore Banner.
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Reuters received the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for its “Fentanyl Express” series, which exposed the global chemical trade fueling the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
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The Washington Post was recognized for its comprehensive coverage of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes’ commentary.
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ProPublica earned the Public Service Medal for its investigation into deaths caused by abortion law-related delayed medical care.
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Arts and Letters
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Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Purpose, which explores the hidden intricacies of the influential Jasper family.
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Percival Everett received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel James, a powerful re-imagination of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved companion.
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Edda L. Fields-Black was honored in the History category for her work Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War.
The Pulitzer Prizes were announced via a livestream from Columbia University on May 5, 2025. The traditional awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in October, where winners will be formally recognized.
Historical Context
Since their inception in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes have celebrated excellence in journalism and the arts. Over the years, they have adapted to recognize emerging forms of storytelling and reporting, reflecting the evolving landscape of media and literature.
Leading Pulitzer Winners
The New York Times holds the record for the most Pulitzer Prizes awarded to a single media organization, with 125 awards in total.
For a complete list of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, visit the official Pulitzer Prize website: https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2025.
