Ann Telnaes received a Pulitzer Prize for illustrated reporting and commentary Monday, months after leaving the Washington Post over an editorial dispute. The recognition follows her February departure from the paper where she worked for 17 years.
The prize board highlighted Telnaesā work from 2024, citing her "fearlessness that led to her departure from the news organization after 17 years." Telnaes resigned after the paper did not publish a cartoon she submitted in January.
The cartoon depicted billionaire tech and media executives, including Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, bowing before then-President-elect Donald Trump. Telnaes stated she quit the paper in protest after the cartoon was not published, describing the decision in a personal post as a "game changer" and writing a move dangerous for a free press.
David Shipley, then the Washington Post's opinion editor, said the decision was not political. He told The New York Timesā Benjamin Mullin at the time the cartoon was killed because the paper had already addressed the topic and planned further coverage, aiming to avoid repetition.
Shipley later left the Washington Post in February as owner Jeff Bezos sought to refocus the opinion section toward topics like free markets and personal liberties. Mary Duenwald, the Post's interim opinion editor, told the Postās Scott Nover the paper had "a happy working relationship with Ann Telnaes for nearly 20 years" and that her second Pulitzer win speaks to her talent.
Telnaes previously won a Pulitzer in 2001 for editorial cartooning. This year marks her second win. [The Pulitzer Prize) board](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pulitzer-board-sticks-it-to-bezos-by-awarding-cartoonist-who-lampooned-him/) awarded numerous prizes across journalism and arts categories Monday. A guide to the winners and finalists is available.
Other news organizations also received awards. ProPublica won the Public Service prize for the second consecutive year for its series on pregnant women denied care due to abortion laws. This yearās winner examined the consequences of restrictive state laws. The Baltimore Banner, in partnership with The New York Times, won for its incredibly in-depth reporting of Baltimoreās fentanyl crisis. Reuters won the Investigative Reporting prize for its reporting on the global fentanyl trade, highlighted in [The āFentanyl Expressā series](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/reuters-wins-pulitzer-investigation-fentanyl-trade-2025-05-05/).
The Washington Post staff also won a Pulitzer for Breaking News for coverage of the attempt on President Donald Trump's life in July. ādetailed story-telling and sharp analysis described the paper's work. Doug Mills of The New York Times won for breaking news photography of the same event.
The awards noted work covering international topics and challenges faced by journalists. The Wall Street Journal was a finalist in International Reporting for its ācourageous, cool-headed reportingā on the imprisonment of reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia. The staffs of The News & Observer in Raleigh and The Charlotte Observer were finalists in Breaking News Reporting for their coverage of Hurricane Helene. tireless reporting on Hurricane Helene was cited. Esquire won its first Pulitzer for Mark Warren's āA Death in Alabamaā in Feature Writing.
Telnaes commented on the role of satire and press freedom in a statement.
"In a time when the free press is under attack by autocrats in their quest to silence dissent, editorial cartoons and satire are essential for a democracy to survive and thrive. Iām honored to receive this award and encourage everyone to support their local cartoonist."