They are called the most prestigious prizes in journalism.

The Pollers.

This year they were presented on Monday, April 15th at Columbia University in New York City.

And on this episode of the Reliable Sources Podcast, I want to give you two views of the Pulitzer's.

A view from the judges, from the deliberation room, and a view

from one of the winners about what it means for her and for her work. I'm Brian Selter and this is our weekly reliable sources

podcast. It's our chance to go more in-depth with media leaders and newsmakers.

And this week we have a pair of newsmakers. And this week we have a pair of newsmakers. In a few minutes I'll speak

with Nereman L. Mufti. She's a staff photojournalist for the Associated Press, part of a team

that won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting

for their coverage of the war in Yemen and the famine that is continuing to

take place there. She has some remarkable thoughts about the power of

photojournalism and what these prizes really mean. But first let me bring in the Pulitzer Administrator, Dana Kennedy.

Dana, you've been in this job a couple of years now, right?

I thought we should start with a really basic question.

What's the point of giving out prizes,

whether it's the Pulitzer's or others, why is it important to recognize this kind of work?

Particularly now when the media is under such tremendous threat and scrutiny,

including from the highest office of the land,

when they're, you know, reporters are literally being killed for the work they do.

I think it's important to stop and sort of recognize and pay tribute to the folks that are doing this work honorably because it's such an important

part of American democracy and that's why we do it.

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