From 1934 through 2010, Northern California publications made their mark by winning the highest honor in newspapers: the Pulitzer Prize.
Celebrated court cases, natural disasters, tax frauds, spectacular accidents and amazing photography all provided the material for great journalism.
2017
Breaking News – the “Ghost Ship Fire”
East Bay Times
Recipient Profile
2010
Cartoons
Mark Fiore
San Francisco Chronicle
SFGate’s Mark Fiore wins Pulitzer for cartoons
Recipient Profile
2007
Feature Photography
Renée C. Byer
The Sacramento Bee
http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2007-Feature-Photography
2005
Feature Photography
Deanne Fitzmaurice
http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2005-Feature-Photography
Recipient Profile
2005
Editorial Writing
Tom Philp
The Sacramento Bee
http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2005-Editorial-Writing
1997
Spot News Photography
Annie Wells
The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa
http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/1997-Spot-News-Photography
1996
Special Awards and Citations, Journalism
Herb Caen
San Francisco Chronicle
Recipient Profile
1992
Beat Reporting
Deborah Blum
The Sacramento Bee
For her series, “The Monkey Wars,” which explored the complex ethical and moral questions surrounding primate research.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1992
1992
Public Service
The Sacramento Bee
For “The Sierra in Peril,” reporting by Tom Knudson that examined environmental threats and damage to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California.
http://www.sacbee.com/sierrawarming/
1990
Criticism
Allan Temko
San Francisco Chronicle
For his architecture criticism.
Recipient Profile
1990
General News Reporting
San Jose Mercury News
For its detailed coverage of the October 17, 1989, Bay Area earthquake and its aftermath.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1990
1990
Photography
Oakland Tribune
For photographs of devastation caused by the Bay Area earthquake of October 17, 1989.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/loma-prieta-earthquake/ci_13489373
1987
Spot News Photography
Kim Komenich
San Francisco Examiner
For his photographic coverage of the fall of Ferdinand Marcos.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1987
1986
International Reporting
Lewis M. Simons, Pete Carey and Katherine Ellison
San Jose Mercury News
For their June 1985 series that documented massive transfers of wealth abroad by President Marcos and his associates and had a direct impact on subsequent political developments in the Philippines and the United States.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1986
1979
Public Service
Point Reyes Light, a California weekly
For its investigation of Synanon.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1979
1974
Feature Photography
Slava Veder
Associated Press
For his picture of the return of an American prisoner of war from captivity in North Vietnam.
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/exhibits/pulitzer/h1974.html
1956
Public Service
Watsonville (CA) Register-Pajaronian
For courageous exposure of corruption in public office, which led to the resignation of a district attorney and the conviction of one of his associates.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1956
1954
Photography
Mrs. Walter M. Schau
An amateur from San Anselmo, CA
For snapping a thrilling rescue at Redding, Calif., the picture being published in The Akron (OH) Beacon Journal and other newspapers and nationally distributed by the AP.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/galleries/essays/001229.htm
1952
Local Reporting
George De Carvalho
San Francisco Chronicle
For his stories of a “ransom racket” extorting money from Chinese in the United States for relations held in Red China.
Recipient Profile
1951
Local Reporting
Edward S. Montgomery
San Francisco Examiner
For his series of articles on tax frauds which culminated in an expose within the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1951
1950
Photography
Bill Crouch
Oakland Tribune
For his picture, “Near Collision at Air Show.”
http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/h961805
1945
Reporting
Jack S. McDowell
San Francisco Call-Bulletin
For his campaign to encourage blood donations.
http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu/press/releases/2011_5_18_pulitzer.html
1942
Reporting
Stanton Delaplane
San Francisco Chronicle
For his articles on the movement of several California and Oregon counties to secede to form a forty ninth state.
Recipient Profile
1935
Public Service
The Sacramento Bee
For its campaign against political machine influence in the appointment of two Federal judges in Nevada.
http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1935
1934
Reporting
Royce Brier
San Francisco Chronicle
For his account of the lynching of the kidnappers, John M. Holmes and Thomas H. Thurmond in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 26, 1933 after they had been jailed for abducting Brooke Hart, a merchant’s son.
Recipient Profile