LA Observed

The L.A. Times may be the biggest and most-awarded paper the Tribune Company owns, but the corporate culture sometimes still regards the hometown Chicago Tribune as #1. If Times staffers needed any reminding of their second-rank status, it came in the congratulatory message from Tribune chairman Dennis FitzSimons about this week's Pulitzers. The LAT won two prizes, including the public service medal usually treated as the top award, but FitzSimons led with the Chicago winner:

Dear Fellow Employee,
Once again, Tribune journalists are being honored for their outstanding work; today reporters at three of our newspapers were awarded Pulitzer Prizes. The Los Angeles Times won two, and Newsday and the Chicago Tribune earned one Pulitzer each.

In a break with the usual custom, this year the judges awarded two prizes for international reporting-both to Tribune newspapers. Please join me in congratulating today's winners, who are listed below:

� Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune, for Feature Reporting

Her gripping three-part series reconstructed the effects of a devastating tornado on the small town of Utica, Illinois, and illuminated the dangers faced by its citizens.

� Dele Olojede, Newsday, for International Reporting

His series focused on developments in Rwanda in the 10 years since the genocidal slaughter of the Tutsi tribe.

� Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, for International Reporting

The judges cited her "eloquent, wide-ranging coverage of Russia's struggle to cope with terrorism, improve the economy and make democracy work."

� The Los Angeles Times, for Public Service

The newspaper won for its "courageous and exhaustively researched series" on the deadly problems plaguing King Drew public hospital in Los Angeles.

Company-wide, Tribune journalists have now won 100 Pulitzers during our 158-year history. These awards are a tribute to the excellent journalism produced throughout Tribune every day, and something for which we can all be proud.

Sincerely,
Dennis