Hasta La Ideas

Today Columbia University announced the winners of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes. The chosen ones will pick up their Daniel Chester French-designed medals at a luncheon at Columbia on May 28. In the always intriguing criticism category, Holland Cotter of The New York Times got the nod for his “wide ranging reviews of art…marked by acute observation, luminous writing, and dramatic storytelling.” We were also pleased to see The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Inga Saffron once again nominated as a finalist “for her fascinating and convincing architectural critiques that boldly confront important topics, from urban planning issues to the newest skyscraper.” Taking home the prize in the editorial cartooning category was Steve Breen of The San Diego Union-Tribune, who bested finalists Mike Thompson (The Detroit Free Press) and Matt Wuerker (Politico).

As for photography, Patrick Farrell of The Miami Herald won in the breaking news photography category “for his provocative, impeccably composed images of despair after Hurricane Ike,” while Damon Winter of the The New York Times won the feature photography prize “for his memorable array of pictures deftly capturing multiple facets of Barack Obama‘s presidential campaign.” Among Winter’s iconic shots? The one that makes Obama look like he’s starring in a Matrix-esque action film.

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