This new edition of Pulitzer’s Gold makes me grateful on a whole new level. First, for the readers—journalists, nonjournalists, students, and teachers—who urged me to keep researching these exemplary stories. I especially appreciate how they encouraged me to use the 2016 centennial of the Pulitzer Prizes as a platform for heralding the future of public service journalism while honoring the past. Second, my thanks go to Columbia University Press and editor Philip Leventhal for bringing Pulitzer’s Gold “home” to the school Joseph Pulitzer chose to administer his prizes.
The original forces behind Pulitzer’s Gold stayed as strong as ever: my wife, Eileen Carol McIntyre, and my sisters, Ann O’Keefe Brewer and Judy Wolman. My sons Dave and R.J. and the spirit of their mom helped me keep my focus on youthful readers. My stepson, Jesse Laymon, and his wife Vicki promoted that goal too. I lament the passing of so many original supporters, notably John S. Carroll and Bill Thomas of the Los Angeles Times, Selwyn Pepper and Wayne Leeman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bob Greene of Newsday, and Gerald Boyd, Jim Naughton, and Ben Bradlee. I miss them, but their faith in this work still nurtures me.
The backing of the Poynter Institute—which first came from Jim Naughton and Karen Dunlap—remains my bedrock in the era of Tim Franklin. Bill Blundell, bureau chief extraordinaire from my Wall Street Journal years, returned to help me rinse the manuscript clean of clichés. (Sorry, Bill.) And Bob Woodward’s support continued to inspire me for this edition.
At the Pulitzer Prizes, outgoing administrator Sig Gissler; his successor, Mike Pride; and Edward M. “Bud” Kliment all granted me generous access to the archives and made me feel a part of their prestigious Pulitzer club. And, of course, there is no Pulitzer’s Gold without the many journalists who shared their golden stories with me. I am honored and privileged to be able to continue retelling them.