Thoughts on the Pulitzer

Re “Times wins Pulitzer for series on ocean pollution,” April 17

The Los Angeles Times’ series on our troubled oceans offers the best coverage I’ve seen during the past year or so, in any newspaper, of a critical environmental issue. I shared the articles with friends, acquaintances and students. A group of citizens in my city of Laguna Beach has drawn on those articles in its efforts to address the issue of urban runoff onto our beaches.

The reading public is indebted to the journalists who researched and wrote the series. Those articles represent print journalism at its best. You may want to consider revisiting this issue from time to time, thereby making The Times the nation’s prime source for up-to-date coverage on what’s happening with our oceans. With L.A. prominently situated on the Pacific Rim, and its harbor the nation’s leading port, it makes sense for The Times to be the paper of record on ocean issues.

TOM OSBORNE

Professor of history

Santa Ana College

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The Pulitzer Prize for The Times’ series on ocean pollution was strongly deserved. The series offered a riveting and eye-opening view on a critical and unaddressed environmental concern. Not only do I hope that the series leads to some action, I hope it takes a step toward firming up the shaky footing newspapers find themselves on as they compete with the increasingly vapid and instantaneous cacophony of noise that is today’s mass media. Pulitzer Prize administrator Sig Gissler couldn’t have said it better: “Who would be doing this work if we didn’t have newspapers?”

JESSE BROEHL

Mar Vista

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Re “Unusual choices for arts Pulitzers,” April 17

I’m disappointed by your choice of words in the report on the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, in describing author Cormac McCarthy as reclusive. My unabridged Random House defines “recluse” as a person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation, or someone shut off or apart from the world. May I suggest “publicity shy” as a less pejorative choice?

BILL CHERRY

Camarillo