The Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting is a Pulitzer Prize awarded for a distinguished example of breaking news, local reporting on news of the moment. It has been awarded since 1953 under several names:
From 1953 to 1963: Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, Edition Time From 1964 to 1984: Pulitzer Prize for Local General or Spot News Reporting From 1985 to 1990: Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting From 1991 to 1997: Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Reporting From 1998 to present: Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting
Prior to 1953, a Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting combined both breaking and investigative reporting under one category. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.
Hitherto confined to local coverage, the Breaking News Reporting category was expanded to encompass state and national reporting in 2017.
List of winners for Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, Edition Time
YearName(s)PublicationRationale1953StaffThe Providence Journal"for their spontaneous and cooperative coverage of a bank robbery and police chase leading to the capture of the bandit."1954StaffVicksburg Post-Herald"for its outstanding coverage of the tornado of December 5, 1953, under extraordinary difficulties."1955Alice Daily Echo"for a series of news stories dealing with the successful attack on one-man political rule in neighboring Duval County, written under unusual pressure both of edition time and difficult, even dangerous, circumstances. Mrs. Brown dug into the facts behind the dramatic daily events, as well, and obtained her stories in spite of the bitterest political opposition, showing professional skill and courage."1956Detroit Free Press"for his aggressive, resourceful and comprehensive front page reporting of the United Automobile Workers' negotiations with Ford and General Motors for a guaranteed annual wage."1957StaffThe Salt Lake Tribune"for its prompt and efficient coverage of the crash of two air liners over the Grand Canyon, in which 128 persons were killed."1958StaffFargo Forum"for its swift, vivid and detailed news and picture coverage of a tornado which struck Fargo on June 20."1959The Washington Star"for her comprehensive year-long coverage of the integration crisis in Virginia which demonstrated admirable qualities of accuracy, speed and the ability to interpret the news under deadline pressure in the course of a difficult and taxing assignment."1960The Atlanta Constitution"for his reporting of abuses at the Milledgeville Central State Mental Hospital."1961New York Herald Tribune"for his moving account of the death of Leonard Warren on the Metropolitan Opera stage."1962Deseret News"for his resourceful coverage of a murder and kidnapping at Dead Horse Point, Utah."1963New York World-Telegram"for their reporting of an air crash in Jamaica Bay, killing 95 persons on March 1, 1962."
List of winners for Pulitzer Prize for Local General or Spot News Reporting YearName(s)PublicationRationale1964The Wall Street Journal"for his comprehensive account of a multi-million dollar vegetable oil swindle in New Jersey."1965Hungry Horse News"for his daring and resourceful coverage of a disastrous flood that threatened his community, an individual effort in the finest tradition of spot news reporting."1966StaffLos Angeles Times"for its coverage of the Watts riots."1967Public Opinion"for his vivid deadline reporting of a mountain manhunt that ended with the killing of a deranged sniper who had terrorized the community."1968StaffDetroit Free Press"for its coverage of the Detroit riots of 1967, recognizing both the brilliance of its detailed spot news staff work and its swift and accurate investigation into the underlying causes of the tragedy."1969The Louisville Times"for his article, 'Pfc. Gibson Comes Home,' the story of an American soldier whose body was returned to his native town from Vietnam for burial."Courier Journal1970Chicago Sun-Times"for his article about the violence of youthful radicals in Chicago, 'A Wild Night's Ride with SDS.'"1971StaffAkron Beacon Journal"for its coverage of the Kent State University tragedy on May 4, 1970."1972Rochester Times-Union"for their coverage of the Attica, New York prison riot."1973StaffChicago Tribune"for uncovering flagrant violations of voting procedures in the primary election of March 21, 1972."1974Chicago Sun-Times"for uncovering new evidence that led to the reopening of efforts to solve the 1966 murder of Valerie Percy."1975StaffXenia Daily Gazette"for its coverage, under enormous difficulties, of the tornado that wrecked the city on April 3, 1974."1976Miami Herald"for his persistent and courageous reporting over eight and one-half years that led to the exoneration and release of two men who had twice been tried for murder and wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Florida."1977Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"for her reports on the elderly and the process of aging."1978Courier Journal"for his coverage of a fire that took 164 lives at the Beverly Hills Supper Club at Southgate, Ky., and subsequent investigation of the lack of enforcement of state fire codes."1979StaffSan Diego Evening Tribune"for its coverage of the collision of a Pacific Southwest air liner with a small plane over its city."1980StaffThe Philadelphia Inquirer"for coverage of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island."StaffChicago Tribune"for coverage of the worst air crash in history and the blizzard of 1979."StaffGreensboro Daily News"for coverage of a shootout of the Ku Klux Klan."1981StaffThe Daily News"for its coverage of the Mt. St. Helens story, including the photographs by Roger A. Werth."StaffBaltimore News-American"for 'The Snowball Tragedy,' a story of the gap between the young and the elderly."StaffMiami Herald"for 'Three Days of Rage: The Miami Riots.'"1982StaffThe Kansas City Star"for coverage of the Hyatt Regency Hotel disaster and identification of its causes."StaffKansas City TimesSt. Petersburg Times"for her series on drug smuggling in Dixie County, Florida."Miami Herald"for his series on Florida's water problems."StaffCourier Journal"for its coverage of an explosion in the Louisville sewer system."1983StaffThe News-Sentinel"for its courageous and resourceful coverage of a devastating flood in March 1982."StaffThe Dallas Morning News"for its coverage and analysis of the financial collapse of Braniff International Airlines."StaffDemocrat and Chronicle"for its coverage of an accident at Ginna nuclear power plant that helped to avert public panic."1984StaffNewsday"for their enterprising and comprehensive coverage of the Baby Jane Doe case and its far-reaching social and political implications."Bucks County Courier Times"for her investigation of Anna Catherina Emmerick Academy, which linked the religious school's activities to right-wing extremist groups and revealed that it housed weaponry and explosives."StaffThe Fresno Bee"for its coverage, under extreme deadline pressure, of the Coalinga earthquake of May 2, 1983."
List of winners for Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting YearName(s)PublicationRationale1985The Virginian-Pilot"for City Hall coverage which exposed the corruption of a local economic development official."The Boston Globe"for his series on neighborhood activism in Boston."StaffIndependent Record"for its coverage, under deadline pressure, of the worst forest fire in Helena's history."1986Miami Herald"for her versatile and consistently excellent police beat reporting."StaffThe Dallas Morning News"for its comprehensive and compelling coverage, under deadline pressure, of the crash of Delta Flight 191 on August 2, 1985."StaffThe Philadelphia Inquirer"for its coverage, under deadline pressure, of the MOVE siege and its tragic aftermath."1987StaffAkron Beacon Journal"for its coverage, under deadline pressure, of the attempted takeover of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. by a European financier."The Philadelphia Inquirer"for outstanding prison beat reporting, which included proving the innocence of a man convicted of murder."StaffThe Orange County Register"for its comprehensive coverage of the Cerritos air disaster, a midair collision of a jetliner and a private plane on August 31, 1986."1988StaffAlabama Journal"for its compelling investigation of the state's unusually high infant mortality rate, which prompted legislation to combat the problem."StaffThe Eagle-Tribune"for an investigation that revealed serious flaws in the Massachusetts prison furlough system and led to significant statewide reforms."The Arizona Republic"for his reporting on Governor Evan Mecham's turbulent first year in office."StaffThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution"for sustained coverage of an 11-day riot by Cuban inmates at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary."StaffThe Charlotte Observer"for revealing misuse of funds by the PTL television ministry through persistent coverage conducted in the face of a massive campaign by PTL to discredit the newspaper."1989StaffCourier Journal"for its exemplary initial coverage of a bus crash that claimed 27 lives and its subsequent thorough and effective examination of the causes and implications of the tragedy."Gwinnett Daily News"for persistent reporting that revealed expense account abuses by members of the local County Board of Commissioners."Miami Herald"for their investigation of financial wrongdoing by a popular county manager, reporting which was conducted in the face of strong local opposition and which ultimately led to the official's resignation."StaffBillings Gazette"for coverage of the fires in Yellowstone National Park."1990StaffThe Mercury News"for its detailed coverage of the October 17, 1989, Bay Area earthquake and its aftermath."StaffThe Roanoke Times"for its thorough and balanced coverage of a statewide strike by the United Mine Workers against the Pittston Coal Group."StaffThe State"for its extensive and compelling coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Hugo."
List of winners for Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Reporting