The Pulitzer Prize 2025, some of the most respected awards in journalism and the arts, were announced this week by the Pulitzer Prize Board. These prizes celebrate excellent work in different areas, especially journalism, and highlight the most important stories that are influencing people and conversations around the world.
This year, The New York Times was the biggest winner, taking home four major awards. The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and The New Yorker also received important prizes for their strong investigations, fast reporting of breaking news, and powerful storytelling.
Pulitzer Prizes 2025: Complete List of Journalism Winners
- Public Service: Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo & Stacy Kranitz
- Breaking News Reporting: The Washington Post staff
- Investigative Reporting: Reuters staff – “Fentanyl Express”
- Explanatory Reporting: Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum & Matthieu Aikins (NYT)
- Local Reporting: Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme & Jessica Gallagher (Baltimore Banner & NYT)
- National Reporting: The Wall Street Journal staff – Elon Musk investigation
- International Reporting: Declan Walsh & NYT staff – Sudan conflict
- Feature Writing: Mark Warren (Esquire)
- Commentary: Mosab Abu Toha (The New Yorker)
- Criticism: Alexandra Lange (Bloomberg CityLab)
- Editorial Writing: Raj Mankad & team (Houston Chronicle)
- Illustrated Reporting: Ann Telnaes (Washington Post)
- Breaking News Photography: Doug Mills (NYT) – Trump assassination attempt
- Feature Photography: Moises Saman (The New Yorker) – Syria prison
- Audio Reporting: The New Yorker staff – “In the Dark” podcast
The New York Times Dominates with Four Awards
The New York Times emerged as the leading winner, securing four Pulitzer Prizes. Among its standout achievements was the Breaking News Photography award, won by veteran photojournalist Doug Mills for his stunning image of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. The dramatic photograph captured the bullet narrowly missing Trump at the podium—a moment that reverberated across the world.
In addition to this, the NYT was recognized for its national and international coverage, including extensive reporting on the Gaza conflict. Details of the other two awards were not fully disclosed at the time of the announcement, but they reflect the publication’s broad editorial excellence.
The Washington Post Honored for Breaking News Reporting
The staff of The Washington Post received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for their comprehensive coverage of the Trump assassination attempt. The judges praised the team’s swift use of audio and visual forensics, highlighting their ability to deliver accurate, clear, and timely reporting in a chaotic and dangerous situation.
Investigative Reporting Highlights: WSJ, Reuters, and More
The Wall Street Journal won the National Reporting award for an in-depth series on Elon Musk. The investigative work examined Musk’s business empire, alleged drug use, and political affiliations, including close ties with Donald Trump, offering rare insight into one of the world’s most influential tech moguls.
Reuters earned the Investigative Reporting Pulitzer for its seven-part series titled “Fentanyl Express.” The exposé revealed how:
- Precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl can be legally purchased for as little as $3,600.
- That quantity can yield drugs worth up to $3 million.
- Weak global regulations are exacerbating the U.S. opioid crisis.
The New Yorker Scores Triple Win
The New Yorker further cemented its reputation for narrative journalism with three Pulitzer Prizes:
- Commentary: Mosab Abu Toha was recognized for powerful essays on the human toll of the Gaza war.
- Feature Photography: Moises Saman was honored for haunting black-and-white images from inside Syria’s Sednaya prison.
- Audio Reporting: The podcast “In the Dark” received accolades for its gripping look into military secrecy and institutional failures.
Other Notable Journalism Winners
Public Service: Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo, and Stacy Kranitz were recognized for reporting on maternal deaths caused by unclear abortion laws.
Explanatory Reporting: NYT journalists Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum, and Matthieu Aikins explored how U.S. support for militias undermined stability in Afghanistan.
Local Reporting: The Baltimore Banner, in collaboration with NYT reporters, highlighted the impact of the fentanyl epidemic on older Black men in Baltimore.
International Reporting: Declan Walsh and NYT staff earned accolades for their work exposing foreign interference in Sudan’s conflict.
Feature Writing: Mark Warren of Esquire wrote a poignant profile on a pastor-mayor’s suicide following a viral online scandal.
Criticism: Alexandra Lange of Bloomberg CityLab won for her incisive writing on urban design and its impact on families.
Editorial Writing: The Houston Chronicle’s editorial team was honored for a powerful series on deadly train crossings.
Illustrated Reporting & Commentary: Ann Telnaes, former Washington Post cartoonist, received the award for her bold illustrations challenging the powerful.
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