In advance of the announcement of the Pulitzer Prizes at 3 p.m. today, here are some interesting facts surrounding the creation and administration of journalism’s most prestigious awards. The facts are from the official website of the Pulitzer Prizes, unless otherwise noted.
21: The number of prizes normally awarded by the Pulitzer Prizes every year.
2,400: The Prizes see more than this number of entries submitted annually.
102: The number of judges that make nominations for the prizes.
20: The number of juries that those judges sit on.
$10,000: The amount of money Pulitzer winners receive in addition to their award.
Two and three-quarter inches: The diameter of the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal, which is awarded yearly to the winner in the Public Service category.
Three: In 2007, three Pulitzer Prize Gold Medals originally belonging to Newsday turned up on eBay, according to The New York Times. They were sold for a sum of $15,500. They were subsequently recovered, according to Newsday.
$2 million: The amount of money Joseph Pulitzer left to Columbia University to start the journalism school there. One-fourth of that money was set aside for “prizes or scholarships for the encouragement of public service, public morals, American literature, and the advancement of education.”
50 percent: Prize submissions in the investigative reporting category increased by 50 percent after print and online magazines were allowed in.
21 percent: Prize submissions in the features category increased by 21 percent after print and online magazines were allowed in.
114: The number of Pulitzer Prizes won by The New York Times, which is more than any other news organization, according to the company’s website.
