1.   Previous criticism prizes have included photography reviews, but this was the first year that the Pulitzer board bestowed a prize solely for writing about that art.

2.   Margo Jefferson of The New York Times won the criticism prize for her book reviews and other cultural criticism.

3.   The criticism prize was awarded to Justin Davidson of Newsday for his coverage of classical music.

4.   The criticism prize went to Gail Caldwell of The Boston Globe for her observations on contemporary life and literature.

5.   The cultural criticism prize went to The New York Times.