Bob Dylan's Pulitzer Prize

Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has received a Pulitzer Prize for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture". The award, named after the American newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, recognized the 66-year-old's "lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power". Sig Gissler, the Pulitzer Prize administrator, told CNN that the Dylan award "reflects the efforts of the Pulitzer board to broaden the scope of the prize". It marks the first time the board has honoured a rock musician. Dylan's song-writing is unique and his lyrics contain political, social, philosophical and literary influences. He continues to explore the traditions of American blues, country, gospel, rockabilly as well as English, Scottish and Irish folk music.

The Washington Post won the most prestigious Pulitzer award — the Prize for Public Service Journalism. The newspaper had exposed the poor hospital treatment of US soldiers returning home after being wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reuters news agency won the award for news photography, for its picture of a Japanese videographer being killed during last year's demonstrations in Burma.