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Editor-in-Chief Rick Hutzell, in the center, delivers a speech to his collaborators including Chase Cook, Nicki Catterlin, Rachael Pacella, Selene San Felice and Danielle Ohl at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, Monday, April 15, 2019. Hutzell said Monday that the staff experienced "roller coaster moments" by winning a Pulitzer Prize special mention for its coverage and courage in the face of the massacre in its own newsroom. "Obviously, the feelings were shared," Hutzell told The Associated Press. "Nobody wants to win a prize for something that kills five of your friends." (Ulysses Muoz / The Baltimore Sun via AP)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The staff of the Capital Gazette remained silent and exchanged quiet words on Monday when the Maryland newspaper received a special Pulitzer Prize award for its coverage and courage in the face of the massacre in its newsroom.
Before the announcement, the newspaper's staff gathered in their newsroom to remember the five members of staff who were shot dead in June in one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in US history. United States.
"It's really bittersweet," said reporter Chase Cook. "Since it's so linked to something so tragic, there has not been a euphoric outpouring of excitement."
The Capital Gazette, based in Annapolis, capital of the state of Maryland, was released on schedule the day after the shooting. The man charged in the attack had a long-standing grudge against the newspaper.
Capital Gazette editor Rick Hutzell said the newspaper has submitted contributions in five categories, including a joint entry with The Baltimore Sun for the latest news. Although the Capital Gazette did not win any of the five categories, the Pulitzer Board of Directors awarded the citation an extraordinary grant of $ 100,000 to advance its journalism.
The Pulitzer Board said the quote pays tribute to journalists, staff and the editorial board of the newspaper "for their brave response to the biggest murder of US history journalists in their newsroom" and for "their steadfast determination to cover the news and serve their community a period of indescribable sorrow".
Hutzell said he thought the Pulitzer board had handled his decision admirably.
"Obviously, there were a lot of mixed feelings," Hutzell said. "Nobody wants to win a prize for something that kills five of your friends."
He also said the newspaper was aware that he would face fierce competition.
"It's very difficult when you report on yourself," he said. "It's not what we do, we're behind the camera, not in front of her."
Employees John McNamara, Wendi Winters, Rebecca Smith, Gerald Fischman and Rob Hiaasen were killed in the June 28 attack. The shooting did not prevent other staff members from covering him and publishing a newspaper the next day, with the help of colleagues from the Baltimore Sun, which belongs to the same company.
Joshua McKerrow, a newspaper photographer, said the staff was "quiet" for about a minute after reading the quote. Rachael Pacella, a journalist with the Capital Gazette, said the quote provided a "great sense of validation for staff".
"Returning to work has been a challenge," she said. "This lets you know that the extra stress you have experienced on returning to work is worth it and that it has been appreciated."
Reporting reporter Selene San Felice said she needed to get ready before the awards were announced. At first, she was not sure how to react to the special quote.
"At first, I thought it meant that they did not feel well for us, and that's not true, because there are a lot of people you can feel bad about now." really won that, "she said.
Jarrod Ramos, the man accused of shooting in the press room, had long been harassing the newspaper's journalists. He sued the newspaper in 2012, alleging that he had been defamed in an article about his conviction for criminal harassment in 2011. This action was found to be without merit.
The devastation occurred last June with a shotgun blast that destroyed the glass entrance to the open press room. The reporters slipped under the desks and searched for other hiding places, describing minutes of excruciating terror upon hearing the bandit 's footsteps and repeating firing from the gun. County police claimed to have captured Ramos hidden under an office. Authorities say that he has not exchanged shots with the police.
The Ramos trial is scheduled to begin in November. Last year he pleaded not guilty to first degree murder charges. April 29 is the deadline for lawyers to change their plea to not criminally responsible for insanity.
In October, the National Press Foundation announced that Hutzell had won the Benjamin C. Bradlee award from the publisher of the year. This award was created in 1984 to recognize imagination, professional skills, ethics and the ability to motivate staff.
In December, Time magazine included the staff of the newspaper among the recipients of the 2018 Personality Award.
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