1981 Pulitzer Prize

Awards for journalism and related fields February 2025 The Pulitzer Prizes for 1981 were announced on April 13, 1981.Paper wins prize for 'brown lung' series St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 14, 1981 AP https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-paper-wins-prize/141415071/ Newspapers.com The winner in each category is listed first, in bold, followed by the other finalists. Journalism awards Public Service: The Charlotte Observer, for its week-long series, "Brown Lung: A Case of Deadly Neglect", about byssinosis among North Carolina's textile workers, caused by cotton dust exposure.Observer series wins '81 Pulitzer Prize The Charlotte Observer April 14, 1981 Louise Hickman Lione https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-observer-series-w/141427905/ Newspapers.com (Part 2 of article)Brown Lung: A Case of Deadly Neglect The Charlotte Observer February 1, 1980 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-brown-lung-a-cas/141463974/ Newspapers.com Independent & Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), for its report on unnecessary deaths due to inadequate emergency room care in Los Angeles County.Emergency aid called too slow Richmond Times-Dispatch December 15, 1980 UPI https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-emergency-aid-ca/141467491/ Newspapers.com The Tennessean, for reporting on the national resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.Ex-Nashvillian Massie wins Pulitzer The Tennessean April 14, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ex-nashvillian-massie-win/141465732/ Newspapers.com Local General or Spot News Reporting: Staff of The Daily News (Longview, Washington), for its coverage of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, including the photographs by Roger A. Werth.Depth of peak coverage impressed Pulitzer jurors The Daily News Longview, WA April 14, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-daily-news-depth-of-peak-covera/141504478/ Newspapers.com Staff of The Miami Herald, for coverage of the 1980 Miami riots.Herald's Shirley Christian is awarded Pulitzer Prize The Miami Herald April 14, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-heralds-shirley-christ/141455344/ Newspapers.com (Part 2 of article) Staff of the Baltimore News American, for "The Snowball Tragedy", a report about an elderly man accused of killing a teenager for throwing snowballs at his house.The staff of the Baltimore News American was a... UPI April 13, 1981 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/13/The-staff-of-the-Baltimore-News-American-was-a/2398355986000/ 2024-02-19A neighbor goes on trial The Washington Post May 23, 1980 Eugene L. Meyer https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/05/24/a-neighbor-goes-on-trial/5c030e14-26fa-41fe-b8be-31f77c6406b6/ 2024-02-19 Local Investigative Specialized Reporting: Clark Hallas and Robert B. Lowe of The Arizona Daily Star, for their investigation of misuse of funds by University of Arizona football coach Tony Mason and his staff.Star's Lowe, Hallas win Pulitzer Prize The Arizona Daily Star April 14, 1981 Paul Turner https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-stars-lowe-hallas-w/141587219/ Newspapers.com (Part 2 of article) Pamela Zekman, Gene Mustain, Gilbert Jimenez, Norma Sosa, Larry Cose, Patricia Smith, and John Whit of the Chicago Sun-Times, for their series, "The Accident Swindlers", an undercover investigation of lawyers and doctors cheating insurance companies out of excessive payouts for minor car accidents.The Accident Swindlers Undercover Reporting New York University Libraries https://undercover.hosting.nyu.edu/s/undercover-reporting/item-set/98 2024-02-19 Richard Morin, Carl Hiaasen and Susan Sachs of The Miami Herald, for their series, "Key West: Smugglers' Island", exposing drug trafficking in the island community, aided by corrupt public officials.State, federal probe launched in the Keys The Miami Herald April 1, 1980 Carl Hiaasen https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-state-federal-probe-la/141598019/ Newspapers.com (Part 2 of article) National Reporting: John M. Crewdson of The New York Times, for his coverage of illegal aliens and immigration, including over 40 major articles on topics such as migrant smuggling, mistreatment of migrant workers, and corruption among immigration officials.Sketches of the new Pulitzer winners The New York Times April 14, 1981 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1981/04/14/084209.html Donald Barlett and James B. Steele of The Philadelphia Inquirer, for their 7-part series, "Energy Anarchy", criticizing the government's handling of the energy crisis and showing how oil companies benefited from it.3 on Inquirer win Headliner Awards The Philadelphia Inquirer April 9, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-3-on-inquirer/141878614/ Newspapers.com2 Inquirer writers honored for series The Philadelphia Inquirer November 7, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-2-inquirer-wri/141878895/ Newspapers.com Jonathan Neumann and Ted Gup of The Washington Post for "Government Out of Control: Contracts", their series on waste and conflicts of interest in federal government contracting.The Regulators: A Study in Conflict The Washington Post June 21, 1980 Jonathan Neumann Ted Gup https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/06/22/the-regulators-a-study-in-conflict/9c73feaa-74a9-428f-aaed-bbb007e82075/ 2024-02-24 Joseph Volz, Richard Edmonds, Bob Herbert, and Alton Slagle of the New York Daily News, for their 7-part series, "The Crippled Giant", exposing the U.S. military's lack of preparedness for war.Pulitzer jury picked News series for prize New York Daily News April 15, 1981 Richard Rosen https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-pulitzer-jury-picked-news-ser/142001400/ Newspapers.comReady for war? Hell, no! New York Daily News November 9, 1980 Joseph Volz https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-ready-for-war-hell-no/142001470/ Newspapers.com International Reporting: Shirley Christian of The Miami Herald, for reporting of the Salvadoran Civil War and Guatemalan Civil War. Randall Richard of The Providence Journal, for coverage of illegal drug activity in Colombia. Richard Ben Cramer of The Philadelphia Inquirer, for coverage of the Afghanistan rebellion. Feature Writing: Teresa Carpenter of The Village Voice for "Murder on a Day Pass", "Death of a Playmate", and "From Heroism to Madness: The Odyssey of the Man Who Shot Al Lowenstein".Pulitzer runner-up becomes a winner UPI April 16, 1981 Gail Collins https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/16/Pulitzer-runner-up-becomes-a-winner/7778356245200/ 2024-02-20National News Council probes Pulitzer snafu Editor and Publisher May 16, 1981 13 https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1981-05-16_114_20/page/n15/mode/2upMurder on a Day Pass The Village Voice Teresa Carpenter February 25, 1980 https://www.villagevoice.com/murder-on-a-day-pass/ 2024-02-20Death of a Playmate The Village Voice Teresa Carpenter November 5, 1980 https://www.villagevoice.com/death-of-a-playmate/ 2024-02-20 January 13, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240113101620/https://www.villagevoice.com/death-of-a-playmate/ deadFrom Heroism to Madness: The Odyssey of the Man Who Shot Al Lowenstein The Village Voice Teresa Carpenter May 12, 1980 (Prize was originally awarded to Janet Cooke of The Washington Post for "Jimmy's World", a story about an eight-year-old heroin addict.Jimmy's World The Washington Post September 27, 1980 Janet Cooke https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/28/jimmys-world/605f237a-7330-4a69-8433-b6da4c519120/ 2024-02-20 The award was returned after it was discovered that the story was a fabrication.The fabulist who changed journalism Columbia Journalism Review June 1, 2016 Mike Sager https://www.cjr.org/the_feature/the_fabulist_who_changed_journalism.php 2024-02-20) Douglas J. Swanson of the Dallas Times Herald, for a collection of five stories.Volcano stalkers 'erupt in cheers' Corpus Christi Times April 14, 1981 AP https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-volcano-stalkers-e/142081045/ Newspapers.com Madeleine Blais of The Miami Herald, for a collection of stories including "Who's Going to Love Judith Bucknell?", about the murder of a Coconut Grove resident.Post reporter returns Pulitzer; story a hoax The Miami Herald April 16, 1981 Patrick Riordan https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-post-reporter-returns-p/142081308/ Newspapers.comWho's Going To Love Judith Bucknell? The Miami Herald October 12, 1980 Madeleine Blais https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-whos-going-to-love-jud/142081906/ Newspapers.com Commentary: Dave Anderson of The New York Times, for his commentary on sports. Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times, for his television commentary.Complete Historical Handbook of the Pulitzer Prize System 1917-2000 Heinz-D. Fischer Erika J. Fischer 2003 Walter de Gruyter 160 https://books.google.com/books?id=w3CdrctE80IC&pg=PA160 Richard M. Cohen of The Washington Post Criticism: Jonathan Yardley of Washington Star, for his book reviews. Allan Temko of the San Francisco Chronicle, for his architecture criticism.Complete Historical Handbook of the Pulitzer Prize System 1917-2000 Heinz-D. Fischer Erika J. Fischer 2003 Walter de Gruyter 172 https://books.google.com/books?id=w3CdrctE80IC&pg=PA172 Henry Kisor of the Chicago Sun-Times, for his book reviews. Editorial Writing: No award given Jack Burby of the Los Angeles Times Kirk Scharfenberg of The Boston Globe Morris S. Thompson of The Miami Herald Editorial Cartooning: Mike Peters of the Dayton Daily News (Ohio)Peters confronts issues with humorous cartoons Editor & Publisher April 25, 1981 Hal Lipper 28–29 https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1981-04-25_114_17/page/28/mode/2up Jules Feiffer of The Village Voice Paul Szep of The Boston Globe thumb|upright|Spot News finalist photo of goalie Jim Craig Spot News Photography: Larry C. Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, for a collection of 10 photographs of the aftermath of the 1980 Liberian coup d'état, including the firing squad execution of 13 former officials.S-T's Price wins a Pulitzer Prize Fort Worth Star-Telegram April 13, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-s-ts-price-win/142082673/ Newspapers.comLiberian regime threatens foreigners in top positions Fort Worth Star-Telegram April 26, 1980 Paul Rowan https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-liberian-regime/142083626/ Newspapers.com David Tenenbaum of the Associated Press, for his picture of goalie Jim Craig clutching an American flag after his team won the gold medal in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Roger A. Werth of the Longview Daily News (Washington), for his photographs of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Feature Photography: Taro M. Yamasaki of the Detroit Free Press, for his photographs of the Jackson State Prison.A prize-winner's photos Detroit Free Press April 14, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-a-prize-winners-pict/142084722/ Newspapers.comInside Jackson Prison Taro Yamasaki https://taroyamasaki.com/inside-jackson-prison-v2/ 2024-02-25 Michael C. Hayman of the Flint Journal (Michigan), for his photographs of automobile workers. Paul Beaver of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger (Mississippi), for his photographs for the report "Mississippi Delta: Empty Hands in a Fertile Land".Clarion-Ledger staffer finalist in Pulitzers The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, MS April 14, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-clarion-ledger-staffer-fi/141908787/ Newspapers.comMississippi Delta: Empty Hands in a Fertile Land The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, MS December 17, 1980 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-mississippi-delta-empty/141908764/ Newspapers.com Letters, Drama and Music Awards Fiction: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (Louisiana State University Press)1981-04-14 POSTHUMOUS PULITZER GIVEN WRITER WHO COULDN'T GET NOVEL PUBLISHED en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/14/nyregion/posthumous-pulitzer-given-writer-who-couldn-t-get-novel-published.html 2023-04-05 0362-4331 Godric, by Frederick Buechner (Atheneum) So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell (Knopf) History: ''American Education: The National Experience, 1783-1876 by Lawrence A. Cremin (Harper & Row) A Search for Power: The 'Weaker Sex' in Seventeenth Century New England, by Lyle Koehler (Illinois) Over Here: The First World War and American Society, by David M. Kennedy (Oxford) Biography or Autobiography:Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert K. Massie (Knopf) Walt Whitman: A Life, by Justin Kaplan (Simon & Schuster) Walter Lippmann and the American Century, by Ronald Steel (Little) Poetry:The Morning of the Poem by James Schuyler (Farrar, Straus) Selected Poems, by Mark Strand (Atheneum) The Right Madness on Skye, by Richard Hugo (Norton) General Nonfiction:Fin-de-Siècle Vienna: Politics and Culture by Carl E. Schorske (Knopf) China Men, by Maxine Hong Kingston (Knopf) Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War, by William Manchester (Little) Southerners: A Journalist's Odyssey, by Marshall Frady (New American Library) Drama:Crimes of the Heart'' by Beth Henley Music: No award given References External links http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1981 Category:Pulitzer Prizes by year Pulitzer Prize Pulitzer Prize