Texas writer earns Pulitzer Prize

Another Pulitzer Prize winning journalist has been added to the history of Texas newspapers.
Jeffrey Gerritt of the Palestine Herald Press was awarded the prize for "distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction, using any available journalistic tool."
Specifically, the prize recognized 'editorials that exposed how pre-trial inmates died horrific deaths in a small Texas county jail—reflecting a rising trend across the state—and courageously took on the local sheriff and judicial establishment, which tried to cover up these needless tragedies."
The series of editorials ran between June 3 and Dec. 30, 2019. 
The work also captured Gerritt a National Headliner Award earlier this year. Gerritt also won first place for editorial writing in the 2018-19 Texas Better Newspaper Contest.
The 2020 Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism were announced this afternoon.