Commentary

For her colorful, well reported columns on an array of issues, from women in combat to oil drilling in Alaska.

For his hard hitting columns on Hurricane Sandy, the death of a gay college student and other local events and issues.

For his valorous columns that transport readers into dangerous international scenes, from Egypt to Kenya to Cambodia, often focusing on the disenfranchised and always providing insight.

For his engaging commentary on death and dying, marked by pieces on his own father’s rapid physical and mental decline, that stir readers to address end-of-life questions.

For his blend of local storytelling and unpredictable opinions, enlarging the discussion of controversial issues that stir a big city.

For her versatile columns exploring life and the concerns of a metropolis with whimsy and poignancy.

For his illumination of the nation’s most pressing and complex economic concerns, from health care reform to the worst recession in decades.

For his columns that close the distance between the reader and the rough streets of the city, confronting hard realities without leaving people to feel hopeless.

For her range of compelling columns that move the heart, challenge authority and often trigger action while giving readers deeper insight into life’s challenges.

For his prophetic columns on economic peril during a year of financial calamity, blending the scholarly knowledge of a distinguished economist with the skill of a wordsmith.

For her passionate columns on alienated teenagers in a dangerous city neighborhood.

For his hard-hitting columns on the abuse of local political power and a lively range of topics in a colorful city.

For her intelligent and incisive commentary on a range of subjects, using a voice that can be serious or playful.

For his piercing, authoritative columns on business, often spotlighting misdeeds and flaws in corporate culture.

For his vibrant and compassionate columns that gave voice to the afflictions of his city after it was struck by Hurricane Katrina.

For her pungent, clear-eyed columns that tackled controversial issues with frankness and fortitude.

For his powerful columns that portrayed suffering among the developing world's often forgotten people and stirred action.

For his provocative columns with a wide-ranging human touch.

For his columns that, through rigorous reporting and powerful writing, often gave voice to forgotten people trapped in misery.

For her forceful, persuasive columns that confronted sacred cows and hot topics with unswerving candor.

For his clear, tenacious call to action against government corruption in Rhode Island.

For his thought provoking, strongly reported columns on a broad range of topics.

For his compassionate and humane columns, particularly those written after the terrorist attack on New York City.

For his persuasive and authoritative columns on the threats to American civil liberties following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

For her humorous columns on modern life and popular culture.

For his perceptive, versatile columns on such subjects as politics, education and race.

For her keenly analytical columns on the Middle East.

For his enlightening and entertaining observations on cultural and political issues.

For his caring, persuasive columns addressing social and urban problems.

For his passionate columns championing free expression and individual rights.

For his witty columns from Washington on politics and other national issues.

For his columns devoted to local children whose lives were mishandled by the welfare and judicial systems.

For his knowledgeable and analytical columns on a wide variety of national subjects.

For her lyrical and evocative columns on an assortment of urban topics.

For his evocative columns ranging from sports and politics to tales of heroes and fools.

For speaking out in highly personal yet broadly relevant columns in roles as diverse as parent, citizen, critic and philosopher.

For his columns about life in San Francisco and beyond.

For her columns effectively challenging key cases of alleged child abuse.

For his insightful columns on Washington politics.

For his columns disclosing corruption and mismanagement at the NAACP, which prompted reforms at the civil rights organization.

For her "Children First" columns, about issues affecting the youngest Americans.

For his columns about California, filed from around the state.

For her columns about the problems and promise of urban America.

For his impressionistic accounts of his South Central Los Angeles neighborhood before and after the riots.

For her columns about local Cuban-Americans and the issues affecting the immigrant community.

For his insightful commentary on the world of sports.

For her insightful columns on a variety of topics.

For his gracefully written columns about national and international events.

For his thoughtful columns on local and national subjects.

For his columns on national issues.

For his columns about television.

For his clear and controlled commentary on social and political topics.

For informed commentary on a variety of national issues.

For her witty columns on a variety of social and political issues.

For thoughtful commentary on the sports scene.

For his incisive commentary on a wide range of political topics.

For his eloquent columns on social and political issues.

For his compelling commentary on national events.

For incisive and thoughtful commentary on a wide range of public issues throughout a long and distinguished career.

For his gracefully written and clear commentary on a variety of issues.