The Pulitzer Prize for Criticism has been presented since 1970 to a newspaper writer in the United States who has demonstrated 'distinguished criticism'. Recipients of the award are chosen by an independent board and officially administered by Columbia University. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.
Winners and citations The Criticism Pulitzer has been awarded to one person annually except in 1992 when it was not awarded—43 prizes in 44 years 1970–2013. Wesley Morris is the only person to have won the prize more than once, winning in 2012 and 2021.
1970s YearName(s)PublicationRationale1970The New York Times"for distinguished criticism during 1969."1971The New York Times"for his music criticism during 1970."1972St. Louis Post-Dispatch"for his music criticism during 1971."1973Chicago Sun-Times"for his critical writing about television during 1972."1974Newsday"for her critical writing about art and artists."1975Chicago Sun-Times"for his film criticism during 1974."1976The Washington Post"for his critical writing about dance during 1975."1977The Washington Post"for his contribution to 'Book World.'"1978The New York Times"for articles on the theater in 1977 and throughout his long career."1979Chicago Tribune
1980s YearName(s)PublicationRationale1980The Boston Globe"for critical writing about television."The Sacramento BeeMiami Herald1981The Washington Star"for his book reviews."Chicago Sun-TimesSan Francisco Chronicle1982Los Angeles Times"for classical music criticism."The New York Times"for music criticism."Newsday"for television criticism."1983The Wall Street Journal"for her wide-ranging criticism on the arts and other subjects."Miami Herald"for architectural criticism."Boston Phoenix"for film criticism."1984The New York Times"for architectural criticism."Newsday"for his book reviews."The Philadelphia Inquirer"for pop music criticism."1985Los Angeles Times"for his television criticism."Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"for his classical music criticism."The Boston Globe"for her book reviews."1986The New York Times"for his music criticism."Chicago Tribune"for his theater criticism."Los Angeles Times"for his book reviews."1987Los Angeles Times"for his book reviews."The New York Times"for his theater criticism."The Village Voice"for his film criticism."1988The Washington Post"for his television criticism."The News and Observer"for his book reviews."San Francisco Chronicle"for his architecture criticism."1989The News and Observer"for his writing about books and other literary topics."San Francisco Examiner"for her criticism of television and other subjects."The Washington Post"for his theater criticism."
1990s YearName(s)PublicationRationale1990San Francisco Chronicle"for his architecture criticism."The Press-Enterprise"for his pop music criticism."Fort Worth Star-Telegram"for his critical coverage of the 1989 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition."1991Los Angeles Times"for his critiques of the way in which the media, including his own paper, reported the McMartin preschool trial."Los Angeles Times"for his columns on art and artists."San Francisco Examiner"for her television criticism."The Village Voice"for perceptive articles critiquing various forms of advertising."1992No award.The Village Voice"for his theater reviews."Los Angeles Times"for her essay on race and the messages of black nationalism."The Village Voice"for her critical columns on advertising and the media."1993The Washington Post"for his book reviews."The Boston Globe"for her literary and social criticism."Miami Herald"for critical articles on popular music and culture."1994Boston Phoenix"for his skillful and resonant classical music criticism."The Washington Post"for his imaginative and varied cultural criticism."Dallas Observer"for his lucid and insightful film criticism."1995The New York Times"for her book reviews and other cultural criticism."The Baltimore Sun"for his film criticism."The Wall Street Journal"for her writing about television."1996The Boston Globe"for his knowledgeable writing on architecture."The Boston Globe"for her insightful reviews and comments on books and the literary scene."The Baltimore Sun"for his distinguished film criticism."1997The Washington Post"for his lucid and illuminating music criticism."The New York Times"for his criticism of architecture in America, written with devotion to the art, penetrating analysis and literate style."The Village Voice"for her analytical columns about the forces at work behind advertising and consumerism, particularly on television."1998The New York Times"for her passionate, intelligent writing on books and contemporary literature."The Wall Street Journal"for her tough-minded, critical columns on television and its place in politics and culture."New Times Los Angeles"for his versatile and perceptive writing about film."1999Chicago Tribune"for his lucid coverage of city architecture, including an influential series supporting the development of Chicago's lakefront area."The Washington Post"for his illuminating criticism of photography and painting."The Boston Globe"for her compelling observations on books and popular culture."Newsday"for his fresh and vivid writing on classical music and its makers."
2000s YearName(s)PublicationRationale2000The Washington Post"for his fresh and authoritative writing on photography."The New York Times"for his gracefully-written observations on art and artists."The New York Observer"for his informed and enlightening film criticism."2001The Boston Globe"for her insightful observations on contemporary life and literature."Los Angeles Times"for his passionate and public-minded art criticism."The Village Voice"for his fresh and engaging views on contemporary art."2002Newsday"for his crisp coverage of classical music that captures its essence."San Francisco Chronicle"for his forcefully-expressed and engaging essays illustrating the role that architecture and urban design plays in the life of his city."The Wall Street Journal"for his witty and commanding criticism of contemporary films."2003The Washington Post"for his authoritative film criticism that is both intellectually rewarding and a pleasure to read."San Francisco Chronicle"for his perceptive, passionate criticism of architecture and urban design and their impact on life in his city."Los Angeles Times"for his commanding reviews and essays on architectural development and preservation in an ever-evolving city."2004Los Angeles Times"for his one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural observations."Los Angeles Times"for his versatile architectural criticism that stretched from his hometown's new Disney Hall to the rubble in Baghdad, where he pondered the ancient city's resurrection."The Philadelphia Inquirer"for her passionate and insightful architectural criticism that, through clear, elegant writing, was as accessible to the ordinary reader as it was to the expert."2005The Wall Street Journal"for his reviews that elucidated the strengths and weaknesses of film with rare insight, authority and wit."The New York Times"for boldly exploring the influence of popular culture on American politics and society."The Chronicle of Higher Education"for bringing new vitality to the classic essay across a formidable array of topics."2006The Washington Post"for her witty, closely observed essays that transform fashion criticism into cultural criticism."The New York Times"for his graceful, contemplative and wide ranging critiques of architecture and urban design from New Orleans to Berlin."The Village Voice"for his fresh, down-to-earth pieces on the visual arts and other cultural topics."2007LA Weekly"for his zestful, wide ranging restaurant reviews, expressing the delight of an erudite eater."Los Angeles Times"for his pieces on art that reflect meticulous reporting, aesthetic judgment and authoritative voice."Los Angeles Times"for his passionate music criticism, marked by resonant writing and an ability to give life to the people behind a performance."2008The Boston Globe"for his penetrating and versatile command of the visual arts, from film and photography to painting."The Washington Post"for her perceptive movie reviews and essays, reflecting solid research and an easy, engaging style."The Philadelphia Inquirer"for her forceful critiques that illuminate the vital interplay between architecture and the life of her city."2009The New York Times"for his wide ranging reviews of art, from Manhattan to China, marked by acute observation, luminous writing and dramatic storytelling."Holland Cotter bio page. The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2010.The Philadelphia Inquirer"for her fascinating and convincing architectural critiques that boldly confront important topics, from urban planning issues to the newest skyscraper."The Boston Globe"for his fresh, accessible and energetic reviews on the New England art scene, creating for readers a sense of discovery even as he provides discerning analysis."
2010s