The Pulitzer Prizes[1] (/ˈpʊlɪtsər/[2]) are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters".

Entries must fit in at least one of the specific prize categories, and cannot simply gain entrance for being literary or musical.

[12] Entrants to the Journalism categories are not restricted by nationality, provided their submitted work appeared in a United States-based publication.

Work that has been submitted for Prize consideration but not chosen as either a nominated finalist or a winner is termed an entry or submission.

"[13] Bill Dedman of NBC News, the recipient of the 1989 investigative reporting prize, pointed out in 2012 that financial journalist Betty Liu was described as "Pulitzer Prize–Nominated" in her Bloomberg Television advertising and the jacket of her book, while National Review writer Jonah Goldberg made similar claims of "Pulitzer nomination" to promote his books.

Dedman wrote, "To call that submission a Pulitzer 'nomination' is like saying that Adam Sandler is an Oscar nominee if Columbia Pictures enters That's My Boy in the Academy Awards.

[21] That year, Kathryn Schulz (Feature Writing) and Emily Nussbaum (Criticism) of The New Yorker became the first magazine affiliates to receive the prize under the expanded eligibility criterion.

The first prize in this category was awarded to "The Out Crowd", an episode of the public radio program This American Life.

In addition to the prizes, Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships are awarded to four outstanding students of the Graduate School of Journalism as selected by the faculty.

It comprises major editors, columnists and media executives in addition to six members drawn from academia and the arts, including the president of Columbia University, the dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the administrator of the prizes, who serves as the board's secretary.

The administrator and the dean (who served on the board from its inception until 1954 and beginning again in 1976) participate in the deliberations as ex officio members, but cannot vote.

Members of the board and the juries are selected with close attention "given to professional excellence and affiliation, as well as diversity in terms of gender, ethnic background, geographical distribution and size of news organization."

Prior to the installation of Hohenberg, the program was jointly administered by members of the Journalism School's faculty (most notably longtime dean Carl W. Ackerman) and officials in Columbia's central administration, with the latter primarily under the aegis of Frank D. Fackenthal.

"[67] Alexander Theroux describes the Pulitzer Prize as "an eminently silly award, [that] has often been handed out as a result of pull and political log-rolling, and that to some of the biggest frauds and fools alike.

"[69] The researchers concluded female winners were more likely to have traditional academic experience, such as attendance at Ivy League schools, metropolitan upbringing, or employment with an elite publication such as The New York Times.

The findings suggest a higher level of training and connectedness is required for a female applicant to be awarded the prize than male counterparts.