Anyone who follows more than a few reporters on Twitter will see a lot of self-congratulations going around today as the winners of the 2016 Pulitzer Prizes are announced. The Baltimore Sun was named a finalist in the Breaking News category, but crime reporter Justin Fenton, who did an exceptional job covering the riots — or, as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake prefers to say, the “uprising” — that rocked the city last year, has a tiny complaint.
"Shooting death" ? pic.twitter.com/jCQ0IrdNtX
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) April 18, 2016
The recognition is nice, but its was national news that Gray reportedly died as the result of spinal injuries sustained during a “rough ride” in the back of a police van after police allegedly failed to secure him properly with restraints.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged six law enforcement officers in the case but also sought a protective order to keep Gray’s autopsy results from the public; the Baltimore Sun later leaked the results, which confirmed that Gray’s death fit both the medical and legal definitions of an accident.
“Shooting death?” If it’s close enough for the Pulitzer Prize committee, it’s close enough for us.
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Accuracy, Accuracy, Accuracy https://t.co/3LQlbRDrS3
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) April 18, 2016
Congratulations are also due to the Baltimore Sun’s editorial board, whom the crack team at the Pulitzers identified in its tweet as the New York Times’ editorial board.
https://twitter.com/justin_fenton/status/722154497179586560
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