Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Columbia University
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in journalism, letters, drama, and music in the United States. It is administered within a university framework and has a clear process for selection and announcement. This question tests whether you know which university's president formally announces the winners after they are chosen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, a frequent point in general awareness and media related GK.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The central concept is institutional association. The Pulitzer Prizes were established by the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer and are administered by Columbia University in New York City. The Pulitzer Prize Board operates within this university, and traditionally, the president of Columbia University announces the winners. Therefore, the correct answer must be Columbia University, not other universities listed as distractors.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the connection between the Pulitzer Prize and Columbia University from standard GK notes.
Step 2: Recall that the Pulitzer Prize Board functions under the administration of Columbia University.
Step 3: Recognise that final announcements of Pulitzer winners are made by the president of Columbia University.
Step 4: Compare the given options and note that other universities like New York University, Wesleyan University, Cambridge University, or Harvard University do not have this formal role.
Step 5: Choose “Columbia University” as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward. Any official description of the Pulitzer Prize states that the awards are administered by Columbia University. News reports covering the annual Pulitzer announcement often mention that the winners are declared at Columbia. No competing claim exists for other universities, which confirms the association. This consistency across sources makes Columbia University the firmly correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
New York University: A major university but has no formal administrative role in the Pulitzer Prize process.
Wesleyan University: A respected institution, yet not connected with the Pulitzer administration or announcements.
Cambridge University: Located in the United Kingdom, it has no direct link to this American journalism and arts prize.
Harvard University: Another elite university, but it does not administer the Pulitzers or host the prize board.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse Columbia University with New York University because both are located in New York City. Another mistake is to simply pick a famous name like Harvard or Cambridge without considering the specific link to the Pulitzer Prizes. To avoid these errors, always memorise the Pulitzer Columbia connection as a fixed pair in your GK preparation.
Final Answer:
Pulitzer Prize winners are formally announced by the president of Columbia University.
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