In a press release, the selection committee wrote that they were impressed with DeGregory's "knack for bringing readers into the lives of people living on the margins of society. As a reporter on real people’s lives, DeGregory’s commitment to staying in touch with the people she writes about is noteworthy.
“Besides her excellent writing,” explained John Ensslin, a member of the selection committee, “what clinched this honor for DeGregory is her willingness to help share her knowledge with other younger journalists who aspire to learn the craft she has mastered so well.”
DeGregory scored again just last Sunday when she revisited the story of Danielle Lierow's new life, three years later with Bernie and Diane Lierow, formerly of Fort Myers but now living on a farm east of Nashville.
In addition to the Pulitzer, DeGregory also has on her mantle the 2008 American Society of News Editors Award for non-deadline writing, and the 2007 Ernie Pyle Award from the Scripps-Howard Foundation for human interest writing.
SPJ named two other reporters today as Fellows of the Society, posthumously.
They are Dick Goehler, a Cincinnati attorney who dedicated his career to defending journalists’ rights and educating professionals and students about media law. Goehler passed away this past March.
The Society of Professional Journalists also honored Grover Cleveland Hall, the editor of the Montgomery Advertiser and a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1928 for his series of editorials exposing Klan crimes.
Mr. Hall died in 1941.
