The Pulitzer Prize Board decided at its November Board meeting to expand again the eligibility for journalism awards making it possible for online reporters and commentators to be recognized. According to a report in MediaBistro's NY Fishbowl, it sounds like the change means that writers producing original work or commentary can be eligible for consideration regardless of the news publication - print or digital - in which their work appears.
MediaBistro explains:
"Now "entries for journalism awards must be based on material coming from a text-based United States newspaper or news site that publishes at least weekly during the calendar year," according to the revised Pulitzer rules. This change is a baby step from last year's eligibility requirements, which read that nominees from online organizations could be considered, but they, like their print counterparts, had to be "primarily dedicated to original news reporting and coverage of ongoing events."
Considering the varied and sometimes esoteric nature of online publications, the rules for this year consider the writer and their piece over the publication they work for, according to Sig Gissler of the Pulitzer Prize Committee. This is definitely a boon to all those investigative bloggers out there who don't yet write for pubs like The Huffington Post."
Joseph Pulitzer should be pleased that the award bearing his name is steadily finding its way into new media. It seems certain that if he were here, he'd be blogging.