What Makes a Pulitzer-Winning Column?

By: Dave Astor The Poynter Institute's Keith Woods discussed what makes for a Pulitzer Prize-winning column, but several audience members wondered why some columns don't win that award.

Woods spoke at the National Society of Newspaper Columnists conference here -- several months after serving on the jury for the commentary Pulitzer eventually won by Leonard Pitts Jr. of The Miami Herald and Tribune Media Services. NSNC attendees had no problem with the Pitts choice, but did ask Woods why good local columnists rarely receive a Pulitzer.

"Only the big names usually win," said Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram columnist Dave Lieber. "Are people like us locked out of the process?"

Woods replied that at least some famous columnists are famous because they're "consistent" -- submitting 10 rather than, say, five excellent columns for Pulitzer consideration. He did add that entries from many big names were eliminated by this year's commentary jury, which Woods described as a hard-working and fair group.

Why did Pitts get the Pulitzer? Woods said one reason was that readers can relate to how Pitts looks at the world better than they can relate to a columnist with lots of so-called "gravitas." Pitts does his research, of course, but readers feel his writing "springs from the heart," observed Woods.

What elements do good columnists, Pulitzer-winning or otherwise, need at least some of in their work? Woods said they should -- among other things -- be accurate, have a strong voice, have a distinct point of view, be clear, be informative, tell a story well, periodically surprise readers, quote from people who don't usually get quoted, and be fair even when critical.

The meaning of that last element elicited audience discussion. Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette columnist Mike Deupree said being critical yet fair involves giving a reason why the writer is criticizing someone or something. Self-syndicated columnist Rick Horowitz said it also involves not leaving important information out of a piece. "You can acknowledge another point of view," added Pete Rowe of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Lieber said before he submits a column that might upset someone, he phones that person -- "it's an awkward call" -- and says, "'Tell me why I'm wrong.' Then I incorporate that in the column. They appreciate it."

Woods said columns that don't work might be boring, corny, cliched, smug, wishy-washy, or take too much of an "inside" approach. "Not everyone is reading the newspaper every day like you are," said the former columnist for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.