The 1971 Pulitzer Prize went to the following:

Journalism Awards

• National Reporting:
  • Lucinda Franks and Thomas Powers of United Press International, for their documentary The Making of a Terrorist.
• Public Service:
  • Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel for investigation of environmental problems, particularly blocking strip mine operations in northwest North Carolina.
• Local General or Spot News Reporting:
  • Staff of Akron Beacon Journal for coverage of Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970.
• Local Investigative Specialized Reporting:
  • William Jones of the Chicago Tribune, for exposing collusion between police and some of Chicago's largest ambulance companies to restrict services in low income areas.
• International Reporting:
  • Jimmie Lee Hoagland of The Washington Post, for covering the struggle against apartheid in South Africa
• Commentary:
  • William A. Caldwell of The Record, Hackensack, New Jersey, for his daily column.
• Criticism:
  • Harold C. Schonberg of The New York Times, for his music criticism in 1970.
• Editorial Writing:
  • Horace G. Davis, Jr. of The Gainesville Sun, for his editorial in support of peaceful desegregation in Florida schools.
• Editorial Cartooning:
  • Paul Conrad of the Los Angeles Times, for his cartooning in 1970.
• Spot News Photography:
  • John Paul Filo of the Valley Daily News and Daily Dispatch of Tarentum and New Kensington, Pennsylvania. For his photography of the Kent State shootings.
• Feature Photography:
  • Jack Dykinga of the Chicago Sun-Times, for his photography at the Lincoln and Dixon State Schools for the Retarded (Illinois).

Letters, Drama and Music Awards

• Fiction:
  • No award given.
• Drama:
  • The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel
• History:
  • Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom by James MacGregor.
• Biography or Autobiography:
  • Robert Frost: The Years of Triumph, 1915-1938 by Lawrance Thompson
• Poetry:
  • The Carrier of Ladders by William S. Merwin
• General Non-Fiction:
  • The Rising Sun by John Tolland.
• Music:
  • Synchronisms No. 6 for Piano and Electronic Sound (1970) by Mario Davidovsky. Premiered August 19, 1970 at the Berkshire Music Festival.

Sources

• Pulitzer Prizes for 1971.