2001 Finalists

Public Service

Associated Press

For its accurate and comprehensive coverage of the 2000 presidential election, particularly during those 36 uncertain days when much of the nation looked to the AP for disciplined, 24-hour reporting on the close votes and recounts.

The Washington Post

For its comprehensive series on the AIDS plague in Africa, which revealed how the devastating epidemic was affected by political, commercial and bureaucratic forces far removed from the lives of most of its victims.

Breaking News Reporting

Staff of Los Angeles Times Staff

For its compelling and resourceful coverage of every aspect of the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 off the California coast, which killed 88 passengers.

Staff of The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ

For its graphic and highly detailed coverage, despite restricted access, of the dormitory fire at Seton Hall University that killed three students and injured 58 others.

Investigative Reporting

Mike McIntire and Jack Dolan of Hartford Courant

For their persistent reporting that dispelled, locally and nationally, the secrecy cloaking the mistakes of practicing doctors who have been subjected to disciplinary actions or compelled to make malpractice payments.

Fredric N. Tulsky of The Mercury News, San Jose, CA

For his illuminating reporting on the arbitrary and inconsistent administration of the federal system that grants political asylum to refugees entering the U.S.

Explanatory Reporting

Louise Kiernan of Chicago Tribune

For her moving and humane portrait of a young mother killed by a falling skyscraper window, its effect on her three-year-old daughter, and the negligence of the company involved.

Staff of The New York Times

For its insightful coverage of the completed deciphering of the human genome, which explained the scientific context for understanding the chemical string that makes up DNA, as well as the discovery's implications for the future.

Beat Reporting

Virginia Ellis of Los Angeles Times

For her persistent reporting that exposed extensive financial improprieties by a state insurance commissioner, who later resigned.

Rebecca Smith of The Wall Street Journal

For her prescient and knowledgeable reporting on the electricity shortage faced by the U.S., and the country's failed efforts to deregulate energy.

National Reporting

Frank Fitzpatrick and Gilbert M. Gaul of The Philadelphia Inquirer

For their series on the extreme commercialization of college sports.

Staff of Chicago Tribune

For its comprehensive review of death penalty cases in Texas and nine other states that pointed out fundamental flaws in the system by which Americans are executed for crimes.

International Reporting

Maura Reynolds of Los Angeles Times

For her reporting, at considerable personal risk, of the volatile aftermath of the war in Chechnya and the uncertain future engagement of Russia with that republic.

Feature Writing

Robin Gaby Fisher of The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ

For her inspirational stories that chronicled the care and recovery of two students critically burned in a dormitory fire at Seton Hall University.

Richard E. Meyer of Los Angeles Times

For his elegant, insightful portrait of a Tennessee family whose son shot three people at his high school.

Commentary

Karen Heller of The Philadelphia Inquirer

For her humorous columns on modern life and popular culture.

Derrick Z. Jackson of The Boston Globe

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

Trudy Rubin of The Philadelphia Inquirer

For her keenly analytical columns on the Middle East.

Criticism

Christopher Knight of Los Angeles Times

For his passionate and publi'minded art criticism.

Jerry Saltz of The Village Voice, a New York City weekly

For his fresh and engaging views on contemporary art.

Editorial Writing

Laurie Roberts of The Arizona Republic Phoenix

For her persuasive editorial series urging reform of the process by which the state draws its legislative and congressional districts.

Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times

For her searching and knowledgeable editorials on international and human rights issues.

Editorial Cartooning

Clay Bennett of The Christian Science Monitor

Ben Sargent of The Austin American-Statesman

Breaking News Photography

Chris Gerald (a pseudonym) of Agence France-Presse

For his photograph of a Palestinian youth triumphantly raising his bloodstained hands after two Israeli soldiers were killed.

Rachel Ritchie of Providence Journal

For her photograph of an armed man who shot four people at a local street fair.

Feature Photography

David Guttenfelder of Associated Press

For his moving photographs of North and South Koreans visiting relatives they had not seen in half a century, and other images generated by the Korean governments' reunification efforts.

Marc Piscotty of Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO

For his illuminating images of suburban high school students facing adulthood.