Post Pulitzer Palaver

Yesterday, author Roy Harris, Jr. was online to chat about the Post's Pulitzer victories and the Pulitzer prize in general. Some excerpts: Washington: How often does a humor columnist end up winning for a feature story? Rarely, right? Roy Harris Jr.: It is rare, indeed. Jack Fuller, a former Chicago Tribune editor and Pulitzer board member, told me it was one of his concerns that funny material didn't do well in the Feature category. Gene Weingarten did it VERY well this time. What an amazing story. I could only think of the irony of such a beautiful piece of journalism being passed over by unappreciate readers, and perhaps ending on the bottom of the bird cage, while oh-so-few realized it for the gem that it is. Of course, now it has its recognition. It's worth a reread. BTW, I'm in Boston and NOT a Post reader, so reading Weingarten was a first for me. ... Washington: I am surprised that no editorial was found worthy of a Pulitzer. Any thoughts on why this might be? Roy Harris Jr.: I found this absolutely shocking. The editorial is supposed to be the soul of the newspaper. You can take that to the next step if you want.... However, the Pulitzer Board has a guideline of NOT giving a prize if it can't get a majority in favor (of 19 members.) It did that a few years ago with Feature Writing, which I believe also sent a signal about how features were being written--perhaps with prizes in mind, rather than the readers. But the standard of winning a majority of the board does help prevent a case of a good editorial or feature article winning an Pultizer just because nothing is better that year. That would be a bad precedent. ... Troubled Newspapers: You alluded to the Pulitzers as an indicator of the health of print journalism. How are you assessing the results? As someone who was born and raised on the Baltimore Sun when it was not just a good paper but arguably a great one, its death of a thousand cuts is painful to watch. That is pure understatement. I'm curious, is this the health -- or lack thereof -- to which you allude? Roy Harris Jr.: That's the kind of story that shows newspapers to be seriously ailing. But Pulitzer time is the best time to look at--and, really, to WONDER at--how much great journalism remains in small and mid-sized papers around the country. Look at the result those papers accomplished--not just winners, but finalists. This is where the industry needs to build from. HOW it builds is the worry.

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Post Pulitzer Palaver

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