Wondering what the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography actually covers? It is one of three photography categories listed in the Pulitzer Prizes’ 2021 winners and finalists document, alongside Spot News and Feature Photography.
This page sits within the wider topic of photography awards, which covers the major prizes in the field.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Photography section in the document | Page 163 |
| Spot News Photography | Page 166 |
| Breaking News Photography | Page 171 |
| Feature Photography | Page 176 |
| Period of eligible work | Calendar year ending December 31 |
| Nominations per jury, per category | Three |
These figures come from the Pulitzer Prizes 2021 winners and finalists document. Page numbers and rules can change in later editions, so check the source before you rely on them.
How the Pulitzer photography categories are laid out
In the contents of the 2021 document, the Photography section begins on page 163. It sits within the Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, after Editorial Cartooning and before Audio Reporting.
As of that 2021 edition, the section lists three photography headings:
- Spot News Photography
- Breaking News Photography
- Feature Photography
Each heading has its own block of pages. The document traces winners and finalists from 1917 to the present, according to its title page, which makes it a handy map when you need to find a category fast.
Is breaking news photography the same as spot news photography?
The contents pages list both names but do not explain how they relate. The same pairing appears in reporting, where Spot News Reporting starts on page 38 and Breaking News Reporting on page 40, as the contents list shows.
Because the contents give no dates or reasons, avoid assuming a rename, a year range or a change of rules until you have read the full entries in the source.
The Plan of Award describes the reporting prize for breaking news as a distinguished example of local, state or national reporting that, as quickly as possible, captures events accurately as they occur and, as time passes, illuminates, provides context and expands upon the initial coverage. It lists Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for that reporting prize, according to the Plan of Award excerpt. That wording describes reporting, not photography, and the pages we can see do not state a photography amount.
Who can win and how nominations work
The Plan of Award sets out a clear path from entry to prize:
- The work must come from a United States newspaper, magazine or news site that publishes regularly and adheres to the highest journalistic principles. Broadcast media and their news sites are ineligible.
- The competition is limited to work done during the calendar year ending December 31, according to the Plan of Award excerpt.
- Nominating Jurors, appointed by the Board in each category, submit three nominations in alphabetical order, as the same excerpt states. Each carries a statement of why it merits a prize, without a stated preference among the three.
- The Board may accept, substitute or reject the nominations. If no competitor in a category gains a majority vote, the prize may be withheld.
Except for members of the Board, any journalist, including previous winners, is eligible each year for any award. The Board meets twice annually, and the prizes are announced during the spring, per the Plan of Award.
Institutions are recognised in the Public Service category. In all other categories the Board recognises the work of individuals where possible, which suggests named photographers rather than whole newsrooms.
What the photography prizes judge and what they leave out
The Plan of Award says that in all categories except Cartoons and Photography, the Board seeks a high quality of writing and original reporting. Photographs are therefore not weighed on prose.
The Board still looks for journalistic excellence across all formats, in print or online or both, in every category. A strong entry has to hold up as journalism, not only as a striking picture.
Reading the winners and finalists list without mistakes
A few habits keep you accurate when you use the document:
- Check the exact category heading, not only the Photography section, before you credit a result.
- Note which edition you are reading, and say “as of the 2021 document” when you describe the category list.
- Read the finalists as well as the winners, because the document covers both.
- Keep reporting definitions apart from photography entries, since the wording quoted above belongs to reporting.
If you are weighing journalism prizes against other contests, you can read about the sony world photography awards next. For a regional angle, see the guide to italian photography competitions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography judged on writing?
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No. Photography, along with Cartoons, is left out of the writing standard in the 2021 Plan of Award, so the images carry the entry.
Can broadcast photographers enter?
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As of the 2021 document, broadcast media and their news sites are ineligible. Eligible material comes from a United States newspaper, magazine or news site that publishes regularly.
When are the Pulitzer Prizes announced?
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The Plan of Award in the 2021 document says the prizes are announced during the spring, and that the Board meets twice annually.
Can a category go without a winner?
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Yes. If all competitors in a category fail to gain a majority vote of the Board, the prize may be withheld.
How much is the prize for breaking news photography?
Show answer
The pages available here do not state a photography amount. They give Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for Breaking News Reporting, so check the full source for photography.
