Brett J. Blackledge of The Birmingham News was awarded The Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting today.
Blackledge received the honor, the highest in American journalism, for his 14-month investigation of Alabama's two-year college system, in which he reported corruption, cronyism and nepotism on a wide scale. The award was made by the Pulitzer Prize Board after Pulitzer juries examined hundreds of submissions by newspapers and wire services throughout the country.
"What's remarkable about this award is it basically affirms what we do every day," said Blackledge. "There's nothing magical about this. It's 98 percent of the stuff we do every day. It's extraordinary, yet very ordinary."
Publisher Victor H. Hanson III said, "The entire News family is proud of Brett and our being recognized in excellence in investigative news. This is at the core of what we do every single day."
Here are some of the articles that comprised The Pulitzer Prize entry of The Birmingham News.
Read more about the author of the reports, Brett J. Blackledge
May 7, 2006: Relatives given jobs, other perks
May 21, 2006: College chief's family makes $560,000 in two-year system
July 14, 2006: Records show many officials have relatives within system
July 30, 2006: State's two-year colleges have spent millions since '03
Aug. 28, 2006: Ex-chancellor's son tied to two-year system probe
Sept. 25, 2006: Contractor footed property work
Oct. 8, 2006: Dozens of legislators paid by two-year colleges
Oct. 26, 2006: Johnson wielded power, money; legislators boosted budget, authority for ex-chancellor
Nov. 12, 2006: Software firm given millions in no-bid deals
Nov. 26, 2006: King steps aside from probe of ex-chancellor
Read the entire series of reports from April 18, 2006 continuing to today