Poynter’s Tampa Bay Times has won a 2013 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing and is a finalist in two other categories.
The Times’ Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth won for their editorials on Pinellas County’s decision to fluoridate residents’ water won. Kelley Benham was a feature writing finalist for her three-part series on her daughter’s premature birth, and Alex Zayas’ “In God’s Name” series earned her a finalist spot for feature writing, as well as the Selden Ring Award earlier this year.
“Today, obviously, we celebrate journalism that makes a difference, and we celebrate the Tampa Bay Times,” Editor Neil Brown told the newsroom. “We get to do it together, and with some teachers among us.”
- Kelley Benham celebrates in the Times newsroom.
Speaking about Zayas’ piece, Brown said that she “went places around this state where kids were being abused” and did “what journalists are supposed to do.”
Alexandra Zayas, Tampa Bay Times from Poynter Institute on Vimeo.
Speaking about Benham, Brown said: “Courage would be the word you associate with that story,” which he called “a miracle with extraordinary reporting … We’re all a little smarter for it.”
Kelley Benham, Tampa Bay Times from Poynter Institute on Vimeo.
He went on to talk about the paper’s editorial win, saying: “And then here’s a couple of old cats, true believers in the editorial mission, why we got into this game in the beginning.”
Daniel Ruth and Tim Nickens, Tampa Bay Times from Poynter Institute on Vimeo.
Mallary Jean Tenore contributed to this report.
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