Le prix Pulitzer du service public () est l'un des prix décerné dans le domaine du journalisme américain par les membres du comité Pulitzer de l'université Columbia. Créé en 1918, il récompense un journal ou un site d'actualités dont la couverture d'un événement a rendu un « service public ».
Il s'agit du prix principal remis par le comité et le seul qui remet une médaille d'or ; c'est le prix le plus prestigieux qu'un quotidien ou un magazine américain peut recevoir.
Lauréats
Années 1910 1918 : The New York Times, « for its public service in publishing in full so many official reports, documents and speeches by European statesmen relating to the progress and conduct of the war » 1919 : Milwaukee Journal, « for its strong and courageous campaign for Americanism in a constituency where foreign elements made such a policy hazardous from a business point of view »
Années 1920 1920 : non décerné 1921 : The Boston Post, « for its exposure of the operations of Charles Ponzi by a series of articles which finally led to his arrest » 1922 : New York World, « for articles exposing the operations of the Ku Klux Klan, published during September and October, 1921 » 1923 : Memphis Commercial Appeal, « for its courageous attitude in the publication of cartoons and the handling of news in reference to the operations of the Ku Klux Klan » 1924 : New York World, « for its work in connection with the exposure of the Florida peonage evil," which helped bring an end to convict leasing in Florida 1925 : non décerné 1926 : Columbus Enquirer Sun (Columbus, Georgia), « for the service which it rendered in its brave and energetic fight against the Ku Klux Klan; against the enactment of a law barring the teaching of evolution; against dishonest and incompetent public officials and for justice to the Negro and against lynching » 1927 : Canton Daily News (Canton (Ohio)), « for its brave, patriotic and effective fight for the ending of a vicious state of affairs brought about by collusion between city authorities and the criminal element, a fight which had a tragic result in the assassination of the editor of the paper, Mr. Don R. Mellett » 1928 : Indianapolis Times, « for its work in exposing political corruption to Indiana, prosecuting the guilty and bringing about a more wholesome state of affairs in civil government » 1929 : New York Evening World, « for its effective campaign to correct evils in the administration of justice, including the fight to curb 'ambulance chasers,' support of the 'fence' bill, and measures to simplify procedure, prevent perjury and eliminate politics from municipal courts; a campaign which has been instrumental in securing remedial action »
Années 1930 1930 : non décerné 1931 : The Atlanta Constitution, « for a successful municipal graft exposure and consequent convictions » 1932 : Indianapolis News, « for its successful campaign to eliminate waste in city management and to reduce the tax levy » 1933 : New York World-Telegram, « for its series of articles on veterans relief, on the real estate bond evil, the campaign urging voters in the late New York City municipal election to « write in » the name of Joseph V. McKee, and the articles exposing the lottery schemes of various fraternal organizations » 1934 : Medford Mail Tribune (Oregon), « for its campaign against unscrupulous politicians in Jackson County, Oregon » 1935 : The Sacramento Bee, « for its campaign against political machine influence in the appointment of two Federal judges in Nevada » 1936 : Cedar Rapids Gazette, « for its crusade against corruption and misgovernment in the State of Iowa » 1937 : St. Louis Post-Dispatch, « for its exposure of wholesale fraudulent registration in St. Louis. By a coordinated news, editorial and cartoon campaign this newspaper succeeded in invalidating upwards of 40,000 fraudulent ballots in November and brought about the appointment of a new election board » 1938 : Bismarck Tribune, « for its news reports and editorials entitled, 'Self Help in the Dust Bowl.'" 1939 : Miami Daily News, « for its campaign for the recall of the Miami City Commission »
Années 1940 1940 : Waterbury Republican & American (Connecticut), « for its campaign exposing municipal graft » 1941 : St. Louis Post-Dispatch, « for its successful campaign against the city smoke nuisance » 1942 : Los Angeles Times, « for its successful campaign which resulted in the clarification and confirmation for all American newspapers of the right of free press as guaranteed under the Constitution » 1943 : Omaha World-Herald, « for its initiative and originality in planning a state-wide campaign for the collection of scrap metal for the war effort. The Nebraska plan was adopted on a national scale by the daily newspapers, resulting in a united effort which succeeded in supplying our war industries with necessary scrap material » 1944 : New York Times, « for its survey of the teaching of American History » 1945 : Detroit Free Press, « for its investigation of legislative graft and corruption at Lansing, Michigan » 1946 : Scranton Times, « for its fifteen-year investigation of judicial practices in the United States District Court for the middle district of Pennsylvania, resulting in removal of the District Judge and indictment of many others » 1947 : The Baltimore Sun, « for its series of articles by Howard M. Norton dealing with the administration of unemployment compensation in Maryland, resulting in convictions and pleas of guilty in criminal court of 93 persons » 1948 : St. Louis Post-Dispatch, « for the coverage of the Centralia, Illinois, mine disaster and the follow-up which resulted in impressive reforms in mine safety laws and regulations » 1949 : Nebraska State Journal, « for the campaign establishing the « Nebraska All-Star Primary" presidential preference primary which spotlighted, through a bi-partisan committee, issues early in the presidential campaign »
Années 1950 1950 : Chicago Daily News and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, « for the work of George Thiem and Roy J. Harris, respectively, in exposing the presence of 37 Illinois newspapermen on an Illinois State payroll » 1951 : The Miami Herald and Brooklyn Eagle, « for their crime reporting during the year » 1952 : St. Louis Post-Dispatch, « for its investigation and disclosures of wide spread corruption in the Internal Revenue Bureau and other departments of the government » 1953 : Whiteville News Reporter (North Carolina, semi-weekly) and Tabor City Tribune (NC, weekly), « for their successful campaign against the Ku Klux Klan, waged on their own doorstep at the risk of economic loss and personal danger, culminating in the conviction of over one hundred Klansmen and an end to terrorism in their communities » 1954 : Newsday, « for its expose of New York State's race track scandals and labor racketeering, which led to the extortion indictment, guilty plea and imprisonment of William C. DeKoning, Sr., New York labor racketeer » 1955 : Columbus Ledger and Sunday Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia), « for its complete news coverage and fearless editorial attack on widespread corruption in neighboring Phenix City, which were effective in destroying a corrupt and racket-ridden city government » 1956 : Watsonville Register-Pajaronian (California), « 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 » 1957 : Chicago Daily News, « for determined and courageous public service in exposing a $2,500,000 fraud centering in the office of the State Auditor of Illinois, resulting in the indictment and conviction of the State Auditor and others. This led to the reorganization of State procedures to prevent a recurrence of the fraud » 1958 : Arkansas Gazette, « for demonstrating the highest qualities of civic leadership, journalistic responsibility and moral courage in the face of great public tension during the school integration crisis of 1957. « 1959 : Utica Observer-Dispatch and Utica Daily Press (Utica, NY), « for their successful campaign against corruption, gambling and vice in their home city and the achievement of sweeping civic reforms in the face of political pressure and threats of violence »
Années 1960 1960 : Los Angeles Times, « for its thorough, sustained and well-conceived attack on narcotics traffic and the enterprising reporting of Gene Sherman, which led to the opening of negotiations between the United States and Mexico to halt the flow of illegal drugs into southern California and other border states » 1961 : Amarillo Globe-Times, « for exposing a breakdown in local law enforcement with resultant punitive action that swept lax officials from their posts and brought about the election of a reform slate. The newspaper thus exerted its civic leadership in the finest tradition of journalism » 1962 : Panama City News-Herald, « for its three-year campaign against entrenched power and corruption, with resultant reforms in Panama City and Bay County » 1963 : Chicago Daily News, « for calling public attention to the issue of providing birth control services in the public health programs in its area » 1964 : St. Petersburg Times, « for its aggressive investigation of the Florida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program » 1965 : Hutchinson News, « for its courageous and constructive campaign, culminating in 1964, to bring about more equitable reapportionment of the Kansas Legislature, despite powerful opposition in its own community » 1966 : The Boston Globe, « for its campaign to prevent confirmation of Francis X. Morrissey [Sr.] as a Federal District Judge in Massachusetts » 1967 : Milwaukee Journal, « for its successful campaign to stiffen the law against water pollution in Wisconsin, a notable advance in the national effort for the conservation of natural resources » 1967 : The Courier-Journal (Louisville), for its successful campaign to control the Kentucky strip mining industry, a notable advance in the national effort for the conservation of natural resources. 1968 : Riverside Press-Enterprise (California), « for its expose of corruption in the courts in connection with the handling of the property and estates of an Indian tribe in California, and its successful efforts to punish the culprits » 1969 : Los Angeles Times, « for its expose of wrongdoing within the Los Angeles City Government Commissions, resulting in resignations or criminal convictions of certain members, as well as widespread reforms »
Années 1970 1970 : Newsday, « for its three-year investigation and exposure of secret land deals in eastern Long Island, which led to a series of criminal convictions, discharges and resignations among public and political officeholders in the area » 1971 : Winston-Salem Journal, « for coverage of environmental problems, as exemplified by a successful campaign to block strip mining operation that would have caused irreparable damage to the hill country of northwest North Carolina » 1972 : The New York Times, « for the publication of the Pentagon Papers » 1973 : The Washington Post, « for its investigation of the Watergate case » 1974 : Newsday, « for its definitive report on the illicit narcotic traffic in the United States and abroad, entitled, 'The Heroin Trail.'" 1975 : The Boston Globe, « for its massive coverage of the Boston school desegregation crisis » 1976 : Anchorage Daily News, « for its disclosures of the impact and influence of the Teamsters Union on Alaska's economy and politics » 1977 : Lufkin Daily News, « for an obituary of a local man who died in Marine training camp, which grew into an investigation of that death and a fundamental reform in the recruiting and training practices of the United States Marine Corps »