Perhaps the most universally prestigious award in the field of journalism, the Pulitzer Prizes — created by newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer in his will — have revealed their winners for 2025. The prizes recognize exceptional work in journalism and are awarded each year from a university campus in New York City. This year’s ceremony highlighted significant stories, including the impact of fentanyl on Black men in Baltimore, amidst ongoing challenges facing the press in the United States.
Joseph Pulitzer, a Jewish Hungarian immigrant, originally came to the United States as an enlisted soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. His legacy lives on today in the influence of his visionary approach to American journalism. The Pulitzer Prizes have been awarded since 1917 and are known for recognizing journalistic excellence, even during times of “wars, national tragedies and a global pandemic.”
Marjorie Miller, an administrator with the New York-based entity, spoke about the significant impact of the awards in clear and forthright terms.
“We’re here to celebrate American excellence, American greatness.” – Marjorie Miller
Highlights of the 2025 Winners
One of the biggest stories in this year’s awards was the Baltimore Banner, an independent news outlet that opened its virtual doors in 2022. It won the ASNE Distinguished Writing Award for enterprise reporting depicting the devastating impact of fentanyl on Baltimore’s Black men. This coverage shed light on an urgent public health crisis. It highlighted the importance of local journalism in addressing community concerns.
Moises Saman was another big winner. He went on to receive an award for his impactful photography that brought to light the practice of torture within Syrian prisons to The New Yorker magazine. Saman’s work serves to document the harrowing realities that detainees are enduring and bring much-needed international focus to these ongoing human rights abuses.
Ann Telnaes of The Washington Post, for her incisive political cartooning. She doesn’t shy away from powerful people herself, including her frequent critic Donald Trump. It’s a reminder of that important place editorial cartoons play in making commentary and critique possible under those most important first amendment rights in a democratic society.
Press Freedom Challenges
While celebrating these journalistic achievements, it is important to recognize the ongoing struggles within the media landscape in the United States. Reporters Without Borders 2025 World Press Freedom Index The United States once again ranks 57th. This ranking emphasizes a downward “problematic” trend for press freedom in the nation.
The fate of press freedom has been a victim, as the PEW Research Center recently released some alarming statistics. Indeed, they find that from 2008-2020, over a quarter of all newsroom jobs were cut. Besides, roughly two newspapers close per week around the nation.
Miller was dismayed by these trends, saying that moves like these are a sign of the increasing efforts to suppress voices of dissent.
“These efforts are meant to silence criticism, to edit or rewrite history.” – Marjorie Miller
The issues confronting journalists during the last few months provide a heartbreaking juxtaposition against the principles that the Pulitzer Prizes promise to defend. These awards recognize extraordinary accomplishments in the field of journalism. They call attention to the critical need to defend and advance press freedoms.
Accessing the Winners
To learn more about this year’s award winners and finalists, visit the Pulitzer website. Including how to register, what to expect, and their glorious agenda! As journalism continues to evolve amidst challenges, the recognition of excellence serves as a beacon of hope for the industry and underscores its vital role in democracy.
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