Pulitzer Center

12/08/2024

Earlier this year, we launched our newest 1619 Education initiative: the 1619 Education Impact Grant.

This program took inspiration from the impactful work done by our 1619 Education Network to create new collaborative and innovative projects that engage educators and students with themes from The 1619 Project, and that lead to sustained impact beyond the individual classroom level.

On December 14, we’re excited to close out our 1619 Impact Series with a final showcase, where participants can learn from our 1619 Impact grantees and the work they have done to connect programs and communities across the United States with The 1619 Project and its vast resources. Join us from 12:30-6:00pm EST to explore how these grantees worked with students and community members to better understand local and national history as a way of shaping new futures.

Enjoy keynotes from key contributors to The 1619 Project and presentations focused on teacher development, student engagement and classroom instruction, and community engagement and renewal.

Registration is still open, visit the link in our bio to save your spot for this virtual showcase event. 👉 bit.ly/4ga0wGN

12/06/2024

As we wrap up 2024, we are proud and excited to share a hand-picked selection of Pulitzer Center-supported stories that shaped our year. Every December, our team takes a moment to reflect on the journalism that moved us, surprised us, challenged us, or made an impact.

These stories—reporting from more than 20 countries—include the big breakthroughs, and the quieter moments that require sustained attention as public discourse shifts.

While we often spotlight our incredible grantees and partners, our staff are also at the heart of the Pulitzer Center’s mission. Now based in over 15 countries around the globe, they embody our commitment to championing the power of storytelling and intentional connections with people to drive positive change.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from the stewards of Pulitzer Center projects—from our editors guiding the journalistic process, to educators implementing civic literacy programs that reach classrooms around the world, to outreach specialists bringing Center-supported journalism to audiences and communities who need it most.

Dive into these 37 stories and learn why they resonated with our staff. Explore the Pulitzer Center’s 2024 Year in Stories.
👉 https://bit.ly/2024YISpc

12/06/2024

Wayne Roberts, reflecting on his 14-year relationship with his wife Lynne, wrote a letter after Lynne passed away:
Lynne and I met online on the 29th of August, 2010 through an obscure social website and we began conversing, me from Klamath Falls, Oregon and her from Butte, Montana.

We were at an age we didn’t need the courting ritual that most couples go through. She was 64 with a heart as big as the sky, I was 55 and she opened her heart and her home to me. We were married in June of 2011.

Five weeks later, she suffered a double stroke in the middle of the night, but she recovered extremely well. For 10 years, our marriage was rich with love and companionship.

Then came small, subtle hints of dementia, like forgetting someone’s name or why she had come into the kitchen. In just months, she started losing interest in doing things we enjoyed.

Lynne was a very intelligent woman, very sure of herself, but her dementia robbed her of that, a little bit every day. She knew she was losing her mind and it made her angry and scared.

Her condition deteriorated dramatically in her final few months. I installed cameras throughout the house so I could make sure she was OK when I was away.

I knew I would lose my wife to this horrendous disease, but reality hit hard when she became so unwieldly one night, I called an ambulance and got her to the hospital. Within two days, a doctor said she would not recover and sent her home for hospice care.

I was terrified. There were times I looked upwards and asked, “Why? Why does she have to go through this? Why is this being prolonged? Take her and give her peace.”

That moment came on June 6, 2024, at 8:45 a.m., when I watched my wife of nearly 13 years take her last breath.

Lynne and I met in the twilight of our lives and we loved every day. She came into my life when I needed her most and I still owe her so much.

I will carry her with me the rest of my life. But I miss her. A thousand times a day, I miss her.

---

Grantee Joseph Scheller documented the couple’s final year together. The images show the struggles Lynne faced as her health declined, as well as those Wayne faced as her caretaker. Find their story in our bio.

12/05/2024

This is a picture story about life — of joys and sadness, of challenges and struggles and sacrifice. It’s a story about dementia, caregiving, and devotion. Mostly, though, this is a love story.

It begins with Wayne Roberts, a big, burly guy with a Harley, but as personable and approachable as they come. I met him while photographing the last daily delivery of The Montana Standard. He’s one of the bundle carriers, and in just a short and easy conversation, I got a glimpse into his life.

It was simple. When he wasn’t at work, he was caring for his wife, Lynne, who had onsets of dementia. When he was at work, he was thinking of her.

They welcomed me into their home and lives to photograph their story— an hour here and there at first, then whole mornings and afternoons, then overnight stays once or twice a week

There were times I visited where we talked and I didn’t take a single picture. But with their comfort and trust, I became part of their world, in a way, and was able to photograph most anything.

They were mostly simple scenes of daily living and caring, some sensitive, some not, and as dementia stole more and more of Lynne’s mind, her world got smaller and Wayne was her gateway to it. He paved it with tenderness.

Lynne’s health declined abruptly last spring. She spent her final days in hospice and died quietly on an early Thursday morning in June, with Wayne by her side as he had been day and night for months. He whispered his goodbyes.

This is their story.

Find grantee ’s work in the link in our bio.

12/03/2024

“Investigative journalism is not only time-consuming but needs funding. Funding from Pulitzer Center helped me investigative and expose the wrongdoing that would have gone unreported without funding,” says grantee Pascalinah Kabi, whose reporting on mismanagement of Lesotho’s water resources exposed ongoing collusion between diamond mining companies and the state.

At the Pulitzer Center, we know the power of independent journalism to drive real change. Our generous donors make it possible for us to fund investigative journalism and audience engagement programs that have sparked public discourse, changed policies, and empowered communities across the globe.

In October, India’s Supreme Court ended caste-based work assignments in prisons, a landmark decision prompted by Pulitzer Center grantee Sukanya Shantha’s investigation into prison discrimination for The Wire India.

Since Pulitzer Center grantee Cláudia Collucci's reporting for Folha de S.Paulo exposed maternal health injustices, Brazil’s Ministry of Health launched a program to reduce Black maternal mortality by 50% over the next three years.

“Thanks to the tools and training sessions provided by the Pulitzer Center, I was able to explore the supply chain of wood pellets from Vietnam to Korea and Japan, tracing the journey from manufacturer to end user,” shared Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow Vo Kieu Bao Uyen, whose award-winning report revealed the environmental impacts of greenwashing across Asia.

So far this year, the Pulitzer Center has supported over 200 journalism projects by more than 230 grantees and Fellows in 91 countries, trained more than 1,000 journalists in reporting on AI, and connected thousands of students with global issues.

This , support Pulitzer Center’s work and help us tell the stories that matter most—and ensure they reach the people who need them most.

Every contribution amplifies our ability to seek truth, accountability, and change. Make your gift today. 👉 https://pulitzercenter.org/donate

11/29/2024

Brazil’s political past is deeply intertwined with its history of slavery.

A new investigation by Agência Pública reveals that 33 out of 116 prominent political figures have ancestors connected to the enslavement of people. This includes former presidents, senators, and governors.

‘Projeto Escravizadores’, by grantees Bruno Fonseca, Bianca Muniz, and Mariama Correia traced these connections through extensive genealogical research, uncovering links to plantations, homes, and commerce that relied on enslaved labor. For some, this lineage is unknown or distant, but it sheds light on how wealth and power were historically consolidated and passed down in Brazil.

Check out these reports 👉 https://bit.ly/3V7WPZE

11/25/2024

Tomorrow! Join Pulitzer Center's Madeleine Ngeunga in conversation with journalists Grace Ekpu, Cynthia Gichiri and Micah Reddy to discuss how to report on multinational misconduct and natural resource exploitation in Africa.

Dinesh Balliah, director of the Wits Centre for Journalism, will moderate this Global Journalism Network webinar.

Register now! 👇

As an extension of its Africa Focus Week series (coming up on November 18 to 22), GIJN is excited to bring you this webinar in which African journalists who have done impactful collaborative investigations discuss how to connect the dots between Africa and your next watchdog story. Our panel of expe...

11/22/2024

SAVE LOCAL FISHING IN GHANA

Ghanaian fishers and fishmongers are facing climate change, exacerbated by overfishing, illegal practices, and habitat loss, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.

Besides, diminishing fish stocks, unpredictable weather, and rising sea levels are threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities. Women, who dominate the fish sector, face additional hardships due to devreased catches and economic instability.

Supporting coastal communities with training in alternative livelihoods, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, and strengthening local fisheries management.

11/22/2024

KENYA : CLIMATE CHANGE CONFLICT AND PASTORALISTS

As a result of climate change and the scarcity of resources, pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya are caught in a cycle of violence as armed groups raid livestock, exacerbating insecurity and poverty, this, driven by competition for scarce resources. The lack of effective governance and law enforcement makes these regions particularly vulnerable, leading to increased tensions among different pastoralist groups.

A need for conflict resolution, community engagement, and strengthening local governance to restore peace and stability is crucial to ensure the well-being of communities.

11/22/2024

CLIMATE CHANGE CONFLICT AND PASTORALISTS

A need for conflict resolution, community engagement, and strengthening local governance to restore peace and stability is crucial to ensure the well-being of communities.

For more : https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/northern-kenyas-unending-battle-banditry-and-cattle-rustling

11/22/2024

ALL AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING IN WEST AFRICA

Illegal fishing practices by European Union (EU) fleets in West African waters. These practices significantly impact local fishing communities, who rely on artisanal fishing for their livelihoods. Additionally, these activities often occur with a lack of transparency and weak enforcement of international regulations, enabling continued exploitation.

Find more : https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/dark-seas-deception-unmasking-eu-fisheries-west-africas-troubled-waters

11/22/2024

Au nom de la transition énergétique, l’exploitation minière du cobalt et du cuivre entraîne de graves conséquences environnementales en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), comme des pollutions massives des sols et des cours d’eau, affectant les communautés locales.

Il est nécessaire de mettre en place des pratiques minières responsables pour une transition énergétique véritablement durable et respectueuse des droits des populations.

11/21/2024

This month, the Pulitzer Center launched Making Waves, a report that explores the state of ocean reporting, identifies gaps in media coverage, and proposes new ways to enhance storytelling. It highlights the need for better public understanding of the ocean’s health and how it connects to environmental and human well-being.

For journalists, editors, and newsrooms, there are three main takeaways from the report. Audiences seek ocean stories that are deeply reported and scientifically accurate; they want diverse perspectives coming from underrepresented voices, and they understand the content better when it is accompanied by powerful visuals.

Two projects supported by the Pulitzer Center hit these marks. Lessons From the Healthiest Coral Reef in the Caribbean, and The Uncertain Future of America’s Most Iconic Coral Reef were published in Vox with words from Benji Jones and photographs from Jennifer Adler.

We are partnering with Vox to host a webinar that will go behind the scenes of the project, talk about what environmental editors look for in stories, and explore how to engage audiences with compelling ocean storytelling.

Register now! 👉 https://bit.ly/4hZOzVp
Check out our 'Making Waves' Ocean Report 🌊 https://bit.ly/MakingWavesPC

11/20/2024

The tropical glaciers that crown the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in Peru are rapidly melting away. While the region grapples with diminishing supplies of freshwater and an eventual glacier-less future, concerns are also growing about the quality of the water that remains. As glaciers retreat, they can expose sulfide-rich rocks to the elements, triggering chemical reactions that turn meltwater acidic and release heavy metals into it.

The process, known as “acid rock drainage,” has turned some glacier-fed rivers in the Cordillera Blanca a rusty-reddish color, rendering their water unsafe for drinking and farming in the communities they run through. While indigenous villages in the high Andes bear the brunt of the problem, it has also led the water utility company in the city of Huaraz to plan a $10 million investment in a new water treatment plant in order to process acidified waters laden with metals.

, a project by grantee Marco Garro with the support of Mitra Taj, documents how climate change and acid rock drainage are changing life in the Cordillera Blanca.

Check this story for The New York Times.
👉 https://nyti.ms/4fXpybr

11/20/2024

For years researchers have predicted that human health will suffer as the climate warms, precipitation patterns change, and disease vectors spread. Now the warming is well underway.

What impacts are emerging? How can the world mitigate them, and protect decades of progress in global health from new patterns of infectious disease and the sheer physical assault of unprecedented heat and humidity?

'Health on a Warming Planet' a Science Magazine project is part of the Global Health series.
Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/BeyondTNhwp

11/19/2024

The tropical glaciers that crown the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in Peru are rapidly melting away. While the region grapples with diminishing supplies of freshwater and an eventual glacier-less future, concerns are also growing about the quality of the water that remains. As glaciers retreat, they can expose sulfide-rich rocks to the elements, triggering chemical reactions that turn meltwater acidic and release heavy metals into it.

The process, known as “acid rock drainage,” has turned some glacier-fed rivers in the Cordillera Blanca a rusty-reddish color, rendering their water unsafe for drinking and farming in the communities they run through. While Indigenous villages in the high Andes bear the brunt of the problem, it has also led the water utility company in the city of Huaraz to plan a $10 million investment in a new water treatment plant in order to process acidified waters laden with metals.

, a project by grantee with the support of , documents how climate change and acid rock drainage are changing life in the Cordillera Blanca.

Check this story for in the link in our bio.

11/15/2024

Dive into the science of short-form video content with leading experts on Nov 20 at 12:00pm. Join experts Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Dr. Ben Rein, Katherine Smith and grantee Corey S. Powell for a discussion about navigating viral learning opportunities and spotting misinformation.

For:
🎓 Educators
👥 Parents & Mentors
📚 Digital Literacy Advocates
Register now!👉 https://bit.ly/40RIRPj

We'll unpack real examples from 'The Cognitive Science of Deception and Disinformation' a project that examines what works, what doesn’t, and why it matters for young minds. 👉 https://bit.ly/4fqGs29

11/14/2024

“As the U.S. election results sink in, I have been thinking about my colleagues in places like India, Venezuela, Hungary, Philippines, and even Argentina, my own birth country, who have a thing or two to teach us about how to produce world-changing journalism amid insults, persecution, harassment, and worse.

From my colleague Sukanya Shantha in India, a shrinking democracy, I learn that even in an unforgiving context, rigorous and independent journalism can upend an entire unjust system. Shantha’s reporting on caste-based labor in Indian prisons for The Wire recently resulted in a historic ruling by India’s Supreme Court that banned the centuries-old practice across the country. The head judge thanked the reporter for her work.

Maria Ressa, a Nobel laureate and Filipina journalist, has been warning us for years that what happens in the Philippines has a way of making it sooner or later to the U.S. She gave us the warnings—democracy death by a thousand cuts, remember?—as she and her outlet Rappler battled multiple court cases on invented charges initiated by a government led by strongman Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa also personally endured cruel and dehumanizing insults and attacks magnified by organized disinformation networks.

At the Pulitzer Center we will hold the line by doubling down on our commitment to support and enable courageous and independent journalism in the United States and globally. Our mission is even deeper than that as we work interdisciplinarily with educators, students, civic leaders, and artists to meet audiences where they are. Ressa calls it building communities of action, with each sector playing its unique role. That’s how we heal, that’s how we make a lasting difference.”

In the face of mounting threats to press freedom, Executive Editor Marina Walker Guevara reflects on lessons U.S. journalists can take from their colleagues reporting under increasingly authoritarian conditions around the world.

Read the full letter 👉

As the U.S. election results sink in, I have been thinking about my colleagues in places like India, Venezuela, Hungary, Philippines, and even Argentina, my own birth country, who have a thing or two to teach us about how to produce world-changing journalism amid insults, persecution, harassment, an...