Pulitzer Prizes . It is a series of 21 awards corresponding to subjects such as journalism, literature, musical composition and theater, given by Columbia University in New York City and which are considered the highest distinction for works published in the United States .
Awarded each year in April, several literary and artistic figures have been honored with the Pulitzer, such as Margaret Mitchell (1937), Ernest Hemingway (1953) and Bob Dylan (2007).
History
In his will, Joseph Pulitzer called for the creation of this prize to encourage excellence. Pulitzer lists only thirteen prizes in his text, of which four are for journalism, four for literature and drama, and one for education. Sensitive to the changes of his time, Pulitzer nevertheless planned to set up an advisory commission with the power to replace certain subjects, provided the commission judged that this would be beneficial to the public. Pulitzer also gave the commission the right not to award a prize if no work corresponds to the criteria of excellence of the jury.
In accordance with Pulitzer’s wishes, the president of Columbia University announces and awards the prizes based on the jury’s recommendation. But in reality, the commission is actually independent and decides on the awarding of prizes alone.
The Pulitzer Prizes were first awarded on June 4, 1917. Since then, they have been awarded annually by Columbia University in collaboration with the Pulitzer Prize Board without interruption. For many years, they have been awarded in April.
The award for best press photography was first awarded in 1942 , and the award for best musical composition in 1943. Prizes for essays, criticism, and literary fiction were established between 1970 and 1979. Only reports and photographs from newspapers (or daily newscasts) headquartered in the United States are eligible for the journalism award.
The award is accompanied by a check for $10,000 (USD), except for the Public Service Award – the most important – which is awarded the gold medal.