For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources, which may include editorials, cartoons, and photographs, as well as reporting, a gold medal.

Awarded to Grand Forks (ND) Herald for its sustained and informative coverage, vividly illustrated with photographs, that helped hold its community together in the wake of flooding, a blizzard and a fire that devastated much of the city, including the newspaper plant itself.

Columbia University President George Rupp (right) presents Mike Jacobs of The Grand Forks Herald, with the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Los Angeles Times for the work of Sonia Nazario, reporter, and Clarence Williams, photographer, that chronicled the tragic plight of young children with parents addicted to alcohol and drugs, and The Seattle Times for the work of Duff Wilson that disclosed how toxic waste from heavy industries was being recycled as fertilizer.