The Pulitzer Prize is once again updating its criteria to fit with the changing face of news reportage. The Pulitzer Board had changed the criteria last year to allow entries from non-print newsrooms as long as they were "primarily dedicated to original news reporting and coverage of ongoing events." This year, they went a step further and are accepting entries form any Internet-only publication as long as it is published at least weekly.

In the words of the Board, nominations must be from "a text-based United States newspaper or news site that publishes at least weekly during the calendar year and that adheres to the highest journalistic principles."

Though since magazines and broadcast media are still ineligible, so are their corresponding websites.

This change marks the very first time that Internet-only content will be accepted as entries into all 14 of the Pulitzer's journalism categories. In 2007, the Board allowed entries of content from newspaper websites, excluding online-only news sites. Entirely online-entries were accepted only for the categories of breaking news coverage and breaking-news photography.

The rule change is good news for bloggers and online columnists who were previously disqualified simply because of the nature of the place of their employ. This would be the first time many notable writers are eligible for the prize.

According to Sig Gissler, the administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, "the revised rule will provide more flexibility as we focus on the merit of an entry rather than the mission of the Web site where it appeared."

Applications are due 1 February 2010.

Source: mediabistro