The Washington Post dominated the Pulitzer Prizes, claiming four awards, but this year the headline goes to a finalist that went home empty-handed.
The National Enquirer was up for its career-busting coverage of former Sen. John Edwards’ love child, but it fell short.
“We’re disappointed, we thought we should have won,” said National Enquirer Executive Editor Barry Levine. “But we think we have new found respectability and credibility just for going through this process.”
The Pulitzer committee at first refused to consider the Enquirer entry. While some blamed the stigma against supermarket tabloids, others noted the Enquirer’s first major Edwards scoops were published in 2008.
The New York Times’ award totals of two and a half amounted to half as many as the Gray Lady scored last year. Matt Richtel’s national reporting and Michael Moss’ explanatory reporting won, and the paper also shared a prize with Pro Publica.