For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality, Three thousand dollars ($3,000).

Awarded to Rick Bragg of The New York Times for his elegantly written stories about contemporary America.

Rick Bragg accepts the 1996 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing from George Rupp, Columbia University President.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Richard E. Meyer of the Los Angeles Times for "Buried Alive", his chilling profile of a woman's desperate attempts to communicate after being left mute and paralyzed by strokes, and Hank Stuever of The Albuquerque Tribune for his detailed and highly personal account of returning to his hometown of Oklahoma City after the bombing there.