Monday, August 20, 2007

Learning from the Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is the highest award in American journalism, as well as a literary and musical accomplishment. An independent board selects winners in 21 categories every year, and has done so since 1917.

That's 90 years of exceptional journalism right there. Reading some of those prize winning articles might be useful, right? While the Pulitzer Prize people haven't seen fit to offer up online access to all winners, award winning pieces from 1995 and forward are on the Pulitzer Prize website.

I suggest reading one every once in awhile, when you need a little inspiration. You might find a new technique or a new subject. At the very least, you might learn a little about your competition when you're ready to go for your prize.

Definition: New Journalism

New Journalism is a term used to describe the style of journalism practiced by Tom Wolfe, Norman Mailer and Truman Capote, among many others. They introduced literary techniques to news writing, which was quite new and unconventional at the time (hence the name).

Techniques include:
  • first-person point of view
  • using scenes to tell a story
  • conversational speech
  • inclusion of everyday details

New journalism styles can be most effective in feature writing, or in book-length projects.