Celebrating Excellence in Journalism and the Arts, Pulitzer Prizes to Be Awarded Monday

File- Signage for The Pulitzer Prizes appear at Columbia University, May 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebto Matthews, File)
File- Signage for The Pulitzer Prizes appear at Columbia University, May 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebto Matthews, File)
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Celebrating Excellence in Journalism and the Arts, Pulitzer Prizes to Be Awarded Monday

File- Signage for The Pulitzer Prizes appear at Columbia University, May 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebto Matthews, File)
File- Signage for The Pulitzer Prizes appear at Columbia University, May 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebto Matthews, File)

The Pulitzer Prizes are set to be announced on Monday, traditionally the most anticipated day of the year for those hoping to earn print journalism's most prestigious honor.
Along with honoring winners and finalists in 15 journalism categories, the Pulitzer Board also recognizes distinguished work in areas including books, music and theater. The awards, which will honor work from 2023, are scheduled to be announced via livestream at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
While forecasting potential winners is a guessing game, the Pulitzers often go to coverage of the year's biggest stories. In this case, the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza is a possibility and may engender controversy.
With the Committee to Protect Journalists estimating at least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, many observers will be interested to see if the Pulitzers recognize work by Palestinian reporters.
The prizes are administered by Columbia University in New York, which itself has been in the news for student demonstrations against the war in Gaza. The Pulitzer board met away from Columbia this past weekend to deliberate on its winners.
The board issued a statement Thursday saluting student journalists at Columbia and other universities across the country for their work covering the campus demonstrations.
For the first time, the Pulitzers opened eligibility to broadcast and audio companies that also operate digital news sites, such as CNN, NPR and the broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC. The work must be primarily in digital journalism, however.
The Columbia Journalism School also administers the duPont-Columbia Awards, which recognize audio and visual journalism and are presented in the winter.
The Pulitzers give out cash awards and a medal for its prestigious public service prize, won last year by The Associated Press for its coverage of the Russian siege of Mariupol in Ukraine.
The Pulitzers also announced that five of the 45 finalists this year used artificial intelligence in research and reporting of their submissions. It was the first time the board required applicants for the award to disclose use of AI.
The prizes were established in the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer and first awarded in 1917.



Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
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Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and architectural details that embody people’s connection to their local environment and document the social and cultural patterns that have shaped the identity of the place across generations.

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition, where mud and stone buildings stand side by side in visual harmony. They were built using local materials such as stone, clay, and juniper trunks, while the narrow alleyways and closely set buildings give the district a cohesive social character that reflects the spirit of past communities in the region and the close relationship between people and place.

The Heritage Commission has revived the district through an integrated restoration and rehabilitation project aimed at preserving its original elements and enhancing its sustainability, as part of national efforts to protect urban heritage and highlight it as a cultural and tourism asset, SPA reported.

The site is also distinguished by its natural setting, as the district overlooks the banks of Abha Valley and surrounding farms, giving it a distinctive visual and aesthetic dimension. Its narrow passageways and closely set buildings illustrate a traditional urban pattern that strengthens ties among residents and captures the nature of social life in that era.

The district is now a growing destination for culture and tourism in Abha, attracting visitors and heritage enthusiasts who come to explore the details of authentic architecture and learn about the traditional ways of life that have shaped Aseer Region’s identity across generations. The project helps raise awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological sites as a key pillar in forming national memory.

The project is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to protect and effectively manage cultural heritage, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, which gives special attention to the cultural sector. It seeks to turn heritage sites into vibrant spaces that support cultural tourism and sustainable development while reconnecting society with its historical roots.


Saudi Heritage Commission Enforces Strict Penalties Against Antiquities Violators

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
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Saudi Heritage Commission Enforces Strict Penalties Against Antiquities Violators

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation

The Saudi Heritage Commission announced financial fines against 11 violators for dealing in portable antiquities without obtaining the required regulatory licenses, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect cultural heritage in the Kingdom and enhance compliance with regulations governing the sector.

The commission clarified that the violations involved displaying and selling antiquities on online platforms without registering or documenting them with the Heritage Commission or obtaining the necessary licenses, in explicit violation of the provisions of the Law of Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage.

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation, reaching up to SAR15,000 in some cases.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring violations related to heritage sites and collections across the Kingdom and taking the necessary legal and regulatory actions against all those proven to have contravened the regulations.

The Heritage Commission called on all citizens and residents to report any violations or non-compliant practices related to heritage sites or collections through its social media channels, by visiting its branches across the Kingdom, through the Archaeological Site Reporting platform, or by contacting the unified security operations center at 911.


Holy Quran Museum Showcases Rare 18th-Century Brass-Engraved Copy of the Quran

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
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Holy Quran Museum Showcases Rare 18th-Century Brass-Engraved Copy of the Quran

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah offers a rich cultural and knowledge experience, enabling visitors to explore the history of the Holy Quran and its sciences, and view rare manuscripts and artifacts documenting the journey of its transcription through the ages, reflecting the care Muslims have given to the Holy Quran since the dawn of Islam to the present day, SPA reported.

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH (18th century CE), showcasing the precision and mastery achieved in Islamic arts and the special attention given to Quranic transcription, combining beauty and scholarly accuracy.

This artwork embodies a continuation of deep-rooted traditions in Islamic calligraphy and decorative arts, utilizing various materials and techniques from parchment and paper to metals, highlighting Muslims’ profound connection to the Holy Quran and their commitment to preserving it in artistic forms that combine creativity and reverence.