For a distinguished example of spot news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album, Five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Awarded to Martha Rial of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for her life-affirming portraits of survivors of the conflicts in Rwanda and Burundi.

Martha Rial accepts the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography from Columbia president George Rupp.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Jean-Marc Bouju of the Associated Press for his chilling sequence of seven photographs in Zaire depicting rebel soldiers beating and then executing a man believed to be a member of Mobutu Sese Seko's presidential guard, and the Grand Forks (ND) Herald photo staff for its committed coverage of the severe flooding that devastated their community.