For distinguished commentary, Five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Awarded to Eileen McNamara of The Boston Globe for her many-sided columns on Massachusetts people and issues.

Columbia University President, George Rupp (left), presents Eileen McNamara with the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Tony Kornheiser of The Washington Post for his evocative columns ranging from sports and politics to tales of heroes and fools, and Deborah Work of the Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for speaking out in highly personal yet broadly relevant columns in roles as diverse as parent, citizen, critic and philosopher.