A conversation with Pulitzer winners

AI chatbots engaged in inappropriate roleplay with minors

Investigations revealed Meta knowingly allowed anthropomorphized chatbots to conduct sexual and romantic roleplay with users of all ages, leading to tragic real-world consequences including one man's death after he pursued a bot to a non-existent address.

Billions in revenue from scam advertising

Internal documents showed Meta generates substantial annual revenue from scam advertisements on its platforms while internally acknowledging they could implement stronger safety measures to reduce user losses.

Document-based reporting on Big Tech

Reporter Jeff Horwitz secured internal company documents by building seven years of expertise and demonstrating to sources that he understood their objections to corporate practices.

Systematic targeting of civil servants and veterans

Peter Eisler's team exposed Trump's use of federal agencies to retaliate against universities, prosecutors, TV hosts, and decorated military commanders, focusing on the human impact rather than political rhetoric.

Overcoming source fear through trust-building

Reporting on retribution required convincing fearful sources—who faced career retaliation and job loss—to share their stories by demonstrating sensitivity and showing how previous subjects were treated.

Long-term photo embeds captured immigration crackdown

Photo editor Karen Perkins oversaw coverage including a 7-month daily presence at Manhattan immigration court and 4 months documenting Chicago raids, capturing family separations that created lasting emotional trauma for photographers.

Graphic novel illustrated inaccessible scam centers

Adalfo Arans created an immersive illustrated investigation into Myanmar's forced scam compounds because the underground criminal network made photography impossible, using months of storyboarding based on survivor accounts.

Drone captured viral detention facility SOS

After a 10-day stakeout including legal perimeter flights over a Texas facility, photographers captured an aerial image of Venezuelan migrants forming an SOS signal with their bodies, creating a defining symbol of the immigration crackdown.

Trauma management for field journalists

Photographers covering immigration raids required ongoing psychological support and formed peer communities to process witnessing the worst moments of families' lives while maintaining professional coverage.