For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Awarded to the Los Angeles Times Staff for its engrossing examination of the tactics that have made Wal-Mart the largest company in the world with cascading effects across American towns and developing countries.
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: S. Lynne Walker of Copley News Service (writing for The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.) for her candid, in-depth look at how Mexican immigration transformed an all-white Midwestern town, and The Wall Street Journal Staff for its masterly, richly detailed stories on how hidden decision-makers make life-and-death choices about who gets health care in America.