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History of the Pulitzer

Joseph Pulitzer was one of the most influential journalists and publishers of the late 19th century. Born in Hungary in 1847, Pulitzer played a pivotal role in reshaping and redefining American journalism. As a young reporter, he was fearless in exposing government corruption, wealthy tax evaders, and engaging in investigative stories. The term "yellow journalism" was coined in 1890 and attributed to him, as his sensational news coverage attracted readers and boosted his newspaper's circulation.

In his 1904 will, Pulitzer established the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes, outlining provisions for four awards in journalism, four in books and drama, one for education, and five for traveling scholarships. Initially, the award for music was determined by an external jury, which included faculty from the Columbia Department of Music and the Institute of Musical Art.

Before 1943, the Pulitzer Prize for Music was only awarded to composers of classical music. However, the criteria were later expanded to allow a broader range of American music to be considered. In 1977, the prize was awarded to Wynton Marsalis for his jazz-influenced work "Blood on the Fields." Since then, the Board has continued to broaden the definition of the award, embracing greater diversity in submissions. In 2018, Kendrick Lamar made history as the first hip-hop artist to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Music.