Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing

It has been awarded since 1917 for distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction.

Thus it is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were awarded that year.

[1] The program has also recognized opinion journalism with its Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning from 1922.

[2] One person ordinarily wins the award for work with one newspaper or with affiliated papers, and that was true without exception between 1936 (the only time two prizes were given) and 1977.

In the early years, several newspapers were recognized without naming any writer, and that has occasionally happened recently.