Pulitzer Prize 2025: Full List of Journalism Winners

The Pulitzer Prizes 2025, among the most prestigious recognitions in journalism and the arts, were announced this week by the Pulitzer Prize Board. These awards honor outstanding contributions across various fields, especially journalism, and highlight the most impactful stories shaping public discourse worldwide.

This year, The New York Times emerged as the top winner, securing four major awards, while The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and The New Yorker also earned notable accolades for their investigative depth, breaking news coverage, and narrative storytelling.

Pulitzer Prizes 2025: Complete List of Journalism Winners

Public Service: Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo & Stacy Kranitz
Breaking News Reporting: The Washington Post staff
Investigative Reporting: Reuters staff – “Fentanyl Express”
Explanatory Reporting: Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum & Matthieu Aikins (NYT)
Local Reporting: Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme & Jessica Gallagher (Baltimore Banner & NYT)
National Reporting: The Wall Street Journal staff – Elon Musk investigation
International Reporting: Declan Walsh & NYT staff – Sudan conflict
Feature Writing: Mark Warren (Esquire)
Commentary: Mosab Abu Toha (The New Yorker)
Criticism: Alexandra Lange (Bloomberg CityLab)
Editorial Writing: Raj Mankad & team (Houston Chronicle)
Illustrated Reporting: Ann Telnaes (Washington Post)
Breaking News Photography: Doug Mills (NYT) – Trump assassination attempt
Feature Photography: Moises Saman (The New Yorker) – Syria prison
Audio Reporting: The New Yorker staff – “In the Dark” podcast

The New York Times Wins Four Pulitzer Prizes

The New York Times (NYT) led the field with four Pulitzer Prize wins in 2025. Among the highlights was an award for Breaking News Photography, credited to veteran photojournalist Doug Mills.

Doug Mills Captures a Defining Moment

Doug Mills won for his dramatic image capturing the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a campaign event on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. The photograph showed the bullet missing Trump by inches as he stood at the podium, an image that stunned the world.

Apart from this, the NYT was honored for its international and national coverage, including its extensive reporting on the Gaza conflict. The details of the remaining three awards were not fully disclosed in the initial announcement but reflect the paper’s broad editorial strength.

The Washington Post Recognized for Breaking News Reporting

The Washington Post staff received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for their comprehensive and swift coverage of the Trump assassination attempt. Judges praised the work for its use of audio and visual forensics, combining speed with accuracy and clarity in a high-stakes situation.

Wall Street Journal Wins for Investigating Elon Musk

In the National Reporting category, the Wall Street Journal stood out with its deep dive into Elon Musk’s personal and professional life. The reporting explored:

Musk’s business operations
His alleged drug use
Political realignment, including his close ties to Donald Trump

This coverage shed light on one of the most influential and controversial figures of the modern tech world.

Reuters Awarded for Fentanyl Crisis Investigation

Reuters received the Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting for its explosive series titled “Fentanyl Express.” This seven-part investigation exposed how:

Precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl could be legally purchased for as little as $3,600
That amount could produce $3 million worth of drugs
Weak international regulations are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States

The New Yorker Secures Three Prizes Across Categories

The New Yorker once again solidified its reputation in narrative journalism, taking home three Pulitzer Prizes:

Commentary: Awarded to Mosab Abu Toha for essays on the human toll of the Gaza war
Feature Photography: Given to Moises Saman for black-and-white images from inside Syria’s Sednaya prison
Audio Reporting: For the podcast “In the Dark,” focusing on military secrecy and institutional failures

Other Major Winners in Journalism

Public Service: Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo, and Stacy Kranitz won for their reporting on maternal deaths linked to unclear abortion laws.
Explanatory Reporting: NYT reporters Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum, and Matthieu Aikins were recognized for work on how U.S. support of militias harmed efforts in Afghanistan.
Local Reporting: Baltimore Banner and NYT journalists highlighted the fentanyl epidemic among older Black men in Baltimore.
International Reporting: Declan Walsh and NYT staff were honored for uncovering foreign interference in Sudan’s conflict.
Feature Writing: Mark Warren from Esquire wrote a moving profile of a pastor-mayor’s suicide following online exposure.
Criticism: Alexandra Lange from Bloomberg CityLab won for writing on urban spaces designed for families.
Editorial Writing: Houston Chronicle’s editorial team received the award for a series on deadly train crossings.
Illustrated Reporting & Commentary: Ann Telnaes, a former Washington Post cartoonist, won for her bold illustrations targeting powerful figures and institutions.