A New Pulitzer Peer for the Star Tribune?

The nomination deadline for the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes is February 1. No word on whether the Star Tribune has nominated any of its work (nothing Pulitzer-worthy comes to mind, but then I don't read the Strib as closely as I used to). But even if they do come up with something, this could be a tough year to break out of their 19 year Pulitzer slump.

Barry Levine, the editor of the National Enquirer, told the Washington Post that he believes the Enquirer deserves a Pulitzer and he just may have a point. With John Edwards' admission that he is the father of Rielle Hunter's child, the National Enquirer has been vindicated on the story in which they scooped the entire media (including the Star Tribune and yes even Fraters Libertas).

If the Strib manages to stay ahead of the National Enquirer in the Pulitzer count, it will likely be due to a technicality: most of the Enquirer's Edwards stories were written in 2007 and 2008 and the Pulitzers for those years have already been awarded. But if I had to put money down on the Star Tribune winning a Pulitzer this year or the National Enquirer winning a Pulitzer this year, I would go Enquirer.

UPDATE: No Pulitzer for the National Enquirer. The administrator of the Pulitzer Prize board has pointed out that the National Enquirer describes itself as a magazine – and magazines are ineligible for Pulitzer Prizes. Hmmm … maybe the Star Tribune should drop a line to the Pulitzer board reminding them that they are NOT a magazine.