Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)
Studies - András Csillag: Joseph Pulitzer, Master Journalist and Benefactor
6. For the best book of the year upon the history of the United States. 7. For the best American biography, teaching patriotic and unselfish service to the people illustrated by an eminent example. At Pulitzer's request an Advisory Board of experts was to supervise the operation of the Journalism School and the prizes named after him. In time, however, the Board v (now called Pulitzer Prize Board) made some alterations in the original awarding plan by adding new categories and broadening the scope of the areas where entries are eligible for a prize. Today, there are 14 different categories in journalism including cartoon and photography, 6 different categories in letters including poetry and non-fiction, and there is a separate category for distinguished musical composition. Each Pulitzer carries a 5.000 dollar prize, except for public service in journalism, which is awarded a gold medal. The prestige and influence that it brings, however, to the winner or the newspaper is incomparably more important than the face value of the prize. Since 1917, when the prizes were first given, a number of outstanding writers, for example, became first famous when they got the award. Among the recipients one can find the names of Margaret Mitchell, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Bernard Malamud, Norman Mailer, John Updike, Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Neil Simon, Carl Sandburg, John F. Kennedy. Archibald MacLeish, Aaron Copland and many others. In the category of journalism, for instance, 1973 was a most memorable year: the gold medal went to The Washington Post for its investigation of the Watergate affair. All the daily and weekly newspapers (no magazines!) published in the United States are eligible for the Pulitzers. Sixty-six jurors, most of them top editors at newspapers nationwide, select and make nominations among the entries to the 18-member Pulitzer Prize Board. The Board, composed of prominent journalists, educators and scholars, chooses the winners for the awards. Sometimes the continual all-America emphasis of the piizes is criticized. The question has cropped up at board meetings now and then when a non-American 19
