COM alumni and current faculty have been awarded a collected two dozen Pulitzer Prizes, journalism’s top honor, for in-depth investigations, war-zone photography and explanatory reporting.
Current Faculty
David Abel, assistant professor of the practice
Awarded For: Exhaustive and empathetic coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt that enveloped the city, using photography and a range of digital tools to capture the full impact of the tragedy (shared).
Year Won: 2014
Outlet: Boston Globe
Press: Pulitzer.org
Michael Holley, associate professor of the practice
Awarded For: Its broad examination of local racial attitudes and its subsequent effort to promote improved communication in the community (shared).
Year Won: 1994
Outlet: Akron Beacon-Journal
Press: Pulitzer.org
Greg Marinovich, lecturer
Awarded For: Spot News Photography in 1991 for his coverage of a brutal murder by African National Congress supporters
Year Won: 1991
Outlet: The Associated Press
Press: Pulitzer.org
Peter Smith, master lecturer
Awarded For: An investigation that revealed serious flaws in the Massachusetts prison furlough system and led to significant statewide reforms (shared).
Year Won: 1988
Outlet: Lawrence (MA) Eagle-Tribune
Press: Pulitzer.org
Alumni
Kirsten Berg (’11)
Awarded For: Groundbreaking and ambitious reporting that pierced the thick wall of secrecy surrounding the Supreme Court to reveal how a small group of politically influential billionaires wooed justices with lavish gifts and travel, pushing the Court to adopt its first code of conduct.
Year Won: 2024
Outlet: ProPublica
Press: Pulitzer.org
Thomas Fiedler (’71)
Awarded For: Stories profiling a local cult leader, his followers, and their links to several area murders (shared).
Year Won: 1991
Outlet: Miami Herald
Press: Pulitzer.org
Awarded For: Coverage of Hurricane Andrew (shared).
Year Won: 1993
Outlet: Miami Herald
Press: Pulitzer.org
Ethan Forman (’93)
Awarded For: Its detailed, well-crafted stories on the accidental drowning of four boys in the Merrimack River (shared).
Year Won: 2003
Outlet: The Eagle-Tribune
Press: Pulitzer.org
Daniel Goodrich (’75)
Awarded For: Photography related to crash of TWA Flight 800
Year Won: 1997
Outlet: Newsday
Press: Pulitzer.org
Samantha Gross (’18)
Awarded For: Its urgent yet sweeping coverage of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium complex, merging clear and compassionate writing with comprehensive news and accountability reporting (shared).
Year Won: 2022
Outlet: The Miami Herald
Press: Pulitzer.org
Stan Grossfeld (MS’80)
Awarded For: His series of unusual photographs which reveal the effects of war on the people of Lebanon; in Spot News Photography
Year Won: 1984
Awarded For: His images of starvation in Ethiopia and illegal aliens on the border of Mexico.
Year Won: 1985
Press: Bostonglobe.com, Pulitzer.org
Joseph Hallinan (’84)
Awarded For: Investigation of medical malpractice system in Indiana
Year Won: 1991
Outlet: The Indianapolis Star
Press: news.vanderbilt.edu, Pulitzer.org
Tyler Hicks (’92)
Awarded For: Photographs that captured the resolve of refugees, the perils of their journeys and the struggle of host countries to take them in.
Year Won: 2016
Awarded For: Compelling pictures that showed skill and bravery in documenting the unfolding terrorist attack at Westgate mall in Kenya.
Year Won: 2014
Awarded For: International reporting of the United States’ political and military challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Year Won: 2009
Outlet: The New York Times
Press: Nieman.harvard.edu
Kimbriell Kelly (’98)
Awarded For: Contributed to Washington Post series that explored killings by police officers in 2015 (shared).
Year Won: 2016
Outlet: Washington Post
Press: Latimes.com
Justin Lane (’95)
Awarded For: Consistently outstanding photographic coverage of the terrorist attack on New York City and its aftermath.
Year Won: 2002
Press: Pulitzer.org
Patricia Maldonado (’91)
Awarded For: Its detailed reporting that revealed pervasive voter fraud in a city mayoral election, that was subsequently overturned.
Year Won: 1999
Outlet: The Miami Herald
Press: Pulitzer.org
Gerard O’Neill (’70)
Awarded For: Their exposure of widespread corruption in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Year Won: 1972 — the first BU alumnus to receive the Pulitzer Prize in journalism
Outlet: The Boston Globe
Press: Pulitzer.org, bu.edu
Jessica Rinaldi (’01)
Awarded For: Feature photography for “The Life and Times of Strider Wolf,” a kindergartner born to poverty in rural Maine and nearly beaten to death at age two by his mother’s boyfriend.
Year Won: 2016
Outlet: The Boston Globe
Press: Pulitzer.org
William Sherman (’69)
Awarded For: His resourceful investigative reporting in the exposure of extreme abuse of the New York Medicaid program.
Year Won: 1974
Outlet: New York Daily News
Press: Pulitzer.org
Mark Thompson (’75)
Awarded For: Reporting which revealed that nearly 250 U.S. servicemen had lost their lives as a result of a design problem in helicopters built by Bell Helicopter – a revelation which ultimately led the Army to ground almost 600 Huey helicopters pending their modification.
Year Won: 1985
Outlet: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Press: Pulitzer.org
Helen Ubinas (’94)
Awarded For: Its clear and detailed coverage of a shooting rampage in which a state lottery worker killed four supervisors then himself.
Year Won: 1999
Outlet: Hartford Courant
Press: Pulitzer.org
Don Van Natta Jr. (’86)
Awarded For: For a series of articles that disclosed the corporate sale of American technology to China, with U.S. government approval despite national security risks, prompting investigations and significant changes in policy (shared).
Year Won: 1999
Outlet: The New York Times
Press: Pulitzer.org
Awarded For: For its informed and detailed reporting, before and after the September 11th attacks on America, that profiled the global terrorism network and the threats it posed (shared).
Year Won: 2002
Outlet: The New York Times
Press: Pulitzer.org
Joan Vennochi (’75)
Awarded For: Articles on Boston’s transit system (shared).
Year Won: 1980
Outlet: Boston Globe
Press: Pulitzer.org
Susan Walsh (’87)
Awarded For: Its striking collection of photographs of the key players and events stemming from President Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky and the ensuing impeachment hearings (shared).
Year Won: 1999
Outlet: Associated Press
Press: Pulitzer.org
Meredith Warren (’01)
Awarded For: Its detailed, well-crafted stories on the accidental drowning of four boys in the Merrimack River (shared)
Year Won: 2003
Outlet: The Eagle-Tribune
Press: Pulitzer.org
Alexandra Wimley (’17)
Awarded For: Its coverage of the shooting deaths of 11 people and the wounding of seven others Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill (shared).
Year Won: 2019
Outlet: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Press: Pulitzer.org, bu.edu