--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone knows how fixed the Pulitzers…" description: "\"“If anyone knows how fixed the Pulitzers are, it’s the editors at the Times. I was part of a New York Times team that won the Pulitzer for our coverage..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/chris-hedges-2131_better-now_if-anyone-knows-how-fixed-the-pulitzers_2800107.png" --- # If anyone knows how fixed the Pulitzers are, it’s the… ![“If anyone knows how fixed the Pulitzers are, it’s the editors at the Times. I was part of a New York Times team that won the Pulitzer for our coverage of global terrorism. I watched the Times rig them year after year. The Times gives a lot of money to the Columbia Journalism School, which oversees…” quote by Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/chris-hedges-2131_better-now_if-anyone-knows-how-fixed-the-pulitzers_2800107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/chris-hedges-2131_better-now_if-anyone-knows-how-fixed-the-pulitzers_2800107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/chris-hedges-2131_better-now_if-anyone-knows-how-fixed-the-pulitzers_2800107.png) > ““If anyone knows how fixed the Pulitzers are, it’s the editors at the Times. I was part of a New York Times team that won the Pulitzer for our coverage of global terrorism. I watched the Times rig them year after year. The Times gives a lot of money to the Columbia Journalism School, which oversees the Pulitzers. The committee in return showers the paper with Pulitzers. It may be better now. I don’t know. But when I was at the paper it was disgraceful. One year the Times war correspondent John Burns wasn’t on the short list. The editors had a fit. He not only magically appeared on a new short list but won. Most people don’t get awards because they’re great reporters, look at Thomas Friedman. They get awards because the establishment wants to validate them. I know who makes up these committees.”” [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote claims that Pulitzer prizes are manipulated by powerful media institutions to favor their own interests rather than merit. **In simple terms:** Pulitzers are allegedly rigged by elite media. Key Takeaway Question the fairness of award systems. Themes media bias award integrity institutional power journalism ethics Mood skeptical critical inquisitive Type analytical critical observational When to use this quote - newsrooms - award committees - journalistic career advancement - media criticism Key Concepts conflict of interest gatekeeping elite influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the integrity of award processes? - What impact does perceived bias have on public trust? A Different Perspective Awards may still recognize genuine excellence despite alleged bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) ## Related quotes > [The daily act of writing remains as demanding and maddening as it was before, and the pleasure you get from writing - rare but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-daily-act-of-writing-remains-as-demanding-and-maddening-as-it-was/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [There's something very strange about associating me with that prize. I had hoped for it in a more directed way as a journalist. 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During these times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/at-certain-times-each-year-we-journalists-do-almost-nothing-except/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Peggy Noonan is not as good a columnist as my colleague Kathleen Parker, in my opinion, but they share something related to their Pulitzers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/peggy-noonan-is-not-as-good-a-columnist-as-my-colleague-kathleen/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Book awards - in America, at least - are not like the Oscars. 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