Could an online-only article win the prestigious Pulitzer prize?

Posted by Helena Deards on January 30, 2009 at 11:17 AM

If any confirmation was needed of the increasing presence of quality journalism on the net, this is surely it; at least 5 web-only newsrooms are entering the Pulitzer prize this year. The online-only St Louis Beacon is amongst other sites taking advantage of the December change in Pulitzer rules to submit entries for the prestigious journalism prize, and submitting their works - the deadline for which is Monday.

The regulations state that any Internet entries must be from sites that publish weekly, produce original work, aren't connected to any broadcast or magazine outlets, are "primarily dedicated to original news reporting and coverage of ongoing stories," and that "adhere to the highest journalistic principles."

The Pulitzer accepting online entries is a step that recognises the importance of online journalism in today's media, but may not sit well with heads of more traditional institutions. There is often debate about the quality of Internet reporting and the restrictions that it is, or as the case may be is not, subject to. It is often difficult for readers to distinguish between sites that are professional and well edited, or sites that may not be quite so high brow in their writing. Internet speculation compared with printed objectivity is proving a tricky issue for many.

However, Scott Lewis whose online-only Voice of San Diego is entering the race responds that "There is this view by some that online is somehow tainted, but I think we are destroying that myth." With results out on April 20, it will be interesting to see if the change in attitude and rules goes far enough to produce an online-only Pulitzer Prize winner.

Source: Editor & Publisher