On Friday, the Pulitzer Prize Board gave a “special
citation” to an adolescent whose video of a police officer killing George
Floyd spurred worldwide rallies against racial injustice.

Darnella Frazer was recognised during a press conference
announcing the 2021 distinguished journalism awards for her
“courageous” reporting on Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police
officer in May 2020.

The New York Times took home the public service prize on
Friday for its coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, while the Minneapolis Star
Tribune took home the breaking news prize for its coverage of Floyd’s
assassination.

This is the second time such a ceremony has been postponed
due to the pandemic. Last year’s announcement was postponed two weeks to
provide board members covering the pandemic more time to assess the nominees.

The Pulitzer Prize is an award given in the United States
for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition in
newspapers, magazines, and online.

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It was founded in 1917 as a result of provisions in Joseph
Pulitzer’s will, who gained his wealth as a newspaper publisher, and is
administered by Columbia University. Prizes are given out in twenty-one
categories each year.

Each winner receives a certificate and a cash prize of
US$15,000 in twenty of the categories. A gold medal is given to the winner of
the public service category.