Los Angeles Times Wins Pulitzer Prize for ‘Altered Oceans’ Series
LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2007 – The Los Angeles Times has won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for its widely acclaimed five-part series, “Altered Oceans,†it was announced earlier today. Marking the 38th award in the paper’s history and recognized by the Pulitzer Board for Explanatory Reporting, “Altered Oceans†was conceived by Times’ staff writer Ken Weiss. Weiss spent 18 months on the feature series exploring the current state of the ocean and was assisted by Times’ photographer Rick Loomis and former Times’ reporter Usha Lee McFarling.
“Winning a Pulitzer Prize is the gold standard of journalism, and the conception and execution of ‘Altered Oceans’ lived up to the Los Angeles Times’ heritage of excellence,†said James O’Shea, editor of The Times. “I congratulate Ken Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis for their outstanding work on an issue that is vital to our readers. We are proud of the series and their accomplishment.â€
Altered Oceans was conceived and executed as a multi-media experience that engaged readers and users through print, still photography, video, graphics and an online message board. The series portrayed how industrial society has polluted the oceans and changed their basic chemistry, threatening sea life and human health in the process. From Moreton Bay, Australia to the California coast to the Midway Atoll in the Pacific, Weiss went out on the water as well as below it to uncover the problems facing the ocean while raising awareness and educating readers on an important and pressing issue. With help from McFarling, who conducted research and wrote the final installment and Loomis, who captured vivid images with his camera, along with a support team of various editorial members, the series was well received and even popular with members of Congress.
This year’s winning entry has been posted online at latimes.com and is available by visiting latimes.com/oceans.
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About the Los Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2.2 million and 3.3 million on Sunday. The Los Angeles Times and its media businesses – including Envelope/theenvelope.com, Times Community Newspapers, Recycler Classifieds, Hoy, and California News – reach approximately 8.1 million or 62% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace.
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