August, Tribune Win Pulitzers, Red Eye Shut Out Again

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 7, 2008 7:44PM

The votes are in and the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced today. The Chicago Tribune and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production August: Osage County were among them. The Tribune staff was awarded the Pulitzer for investigative reporting for "its exposure of faulty governmental regulation of toys, car seats and cribs, resulting in the extensive recall of hazardous products and congressional action to tighten supervision." Meanwhile, in the drama category, Tracy Letts's play, August: Osage County, which has since made a successful jump from Steppenwolf to Broadway, was the Pulitzer winner.

The Trib also had a few writers that, though they didn't win, were nominated as finalists. John Kass was a finalist in the commentary category "for his hard-hitting columns on the abuse of local political power and a lively range of topics in a colorful city" and Howard Witt was a finalist in the national reporting category "for his wide ranging examination of complicated racial issues in America, from the courtroom to the schoolyard."

For more detailed information, including a complete list of winners, finalists, descriptions of each category, and past winners, swing by the impressively extensive Pulitzer Prize website. [Ed note: Which looks like it was last redesigned in 1998. Frames? My eyes!]