【一起听英语】普利策奖（在线收听）

 普利策奖也称为普利策新闻奖。 1917年根据美国报业巨头约瑟夫·普利策（Joseph Pulitzer）的遗愿设立，二十世纪七八十年代已经发展成为美国新闻界的一项最高荣誉奖。现在，不断完善的评选制度已使普利策奖成为全球性的一个奖项，被称为“新闻界的诺贝尔奖”。

This is not a word for word transcript.

Chris: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English, I'm Chris

and with me today is Jen.

Jen: Hi there.

Chris: Now Jen, are you reading any books at the moment?

Jen: Yes, I'm currently reading a book called Room by Emma Donoghue. It's about

a woman who has been kidnapped and is being held hostage in a tiny room

and she's there for years. It's quite a riveting read.

Chris: Yes, I love reading a good book. I often like to read a book on the way to

work in the mornings. You might even say that I'm a bit of a bookworm. So

today's topic is all about books, and in particular, one of the world's most

prestigious literature and arts awards, the Pulitzer Prizes. Have you heard of

them?

Jen: Yes, the American awards - perhaps its most famous award is for fiction. I'm

quite an avid reader of fiction myself – to do something avidly is to do it

enthusiastically.

Chris: Well, to start off, how about a quick question for you and our avid listeners?

How many judges are there for the Pulitzer Prizes? Is it:

(a) 9

(b) 22 or

(c) 102

Jen: Hmm, I'll go for B, 22.

Chris: I'll reveal the answer at the end of today's programme. Now, you said you

were an avid reader of fiction. Have you read any Pulitzer Prize-winning books?

Jen: Yes, I was curious to read 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy after it won the

Pulitzer Prize a few years ago. It's a really frightening and intense book about

the end of the world, but I am glad I read it.

Chris: The fact that it won a prize was a good recommendation for you to read

the book then? 

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Jen: Yes, it definitely helped. If a book is prize, or award-winning, then it's

usually worth a read.

Chris: That was a few years ago, but do you know who won this year's Pulitzer Prize

for fiction?

Jen: I'm afraid I have no idea. Was it Barbara Cartland?

Chris: Sadly no. In fact nobody won this year's prize for fiction. The judges from

Columbia University in New York thought that none of the shortlisted books

were worthy of the prize.

Jen: So they didn't give it to anyone?

Chris: That's right. Let's take a listen to a clip from BBC correspondent Vincent

Dowd's report. See if you can hear the phrase the reporter uses to describe

how the authors might feel about not winning.

BBC correspondent Vincent Dowd:

This year, the judges at Colombia University New York have decided no book is worthy of

the prize. This last happened in 1977, but there’s been a big change since then. Since 1980

the Pulitzers have revealed their short lists, so we now know the judges didn’t ultimately

think much of Train Dreams, by Dennis Johnson, Swamplandia by Karen Russell, or The Pale

King by David Foster-Wallis. Mr Wallis is no longer alive, but it’s a bit embarrassing for

Johnson and Russell. The judges haven’t explained why they didn’t make the award, which

would have meant a cheque for $10,000, and a lot of sales.

Jen: He said it was a bit embarrassing for them, which means they might've felt

annoyed or uncomfortable that their book wasn't worthy of winning the prize.

Chris: But I think making the shortlist of the Pulitzer Prize is still a great

acknowledgement of their abilities as authors.

Jen: The report also highlighted that the winner would have received a cheque for

10,000 dollars.

Chris: And a lot of book sales too. As we mentioned, winning the prize can really

help to recommend a book to new readers.

Jen: Who did win an award this year?

Chris: I'm glad you asked, as I've got another clip from Vincent Dowd's BBC report.

What does the report say about the two winners that it mentions?

BBC correspondent Vincent Dowd:

A sign of the times is that two online news organisations took journalism awards, each for

the first time – Politico and the Huffington Post. The citation for the Huffington Post reveals

journalism, which would once have been in a major newspaper, for a ‘riveting exploration

for the physical and emotional challenges facing American soldiers severely wounded in Iraq

and Afghanistan during a decade of war.’ 

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Jen: So it's the first time these news organisations have won Pulitzer Prizes for

journalism?

Chris: Yes, and they are online news organisation.

Jen: So it’s a sign of the times that more and more people are using the internet

to read and create news journalism.

Chris: Absolutely. I read most of the news online these days. Sometimes even on

my phone. For example, BBC News is incredibly useful when you want to stay

up-to-date.

Jen: The Huffington Post is also interesting as their website includes many bloggers

who contribute their own opinions alongside the professionally-written stories.

Chris: And they've now won a Pulitzer Prize for some of their work. The report

mentioned that this was for journalism usually seen in major newspapers.

Jen: The fact that the award praises web journalism reflects the interesting

development in our reading habits, from paper to online.

Chris: It's a really interesting development. OK, Jen, at the start of the programme I

asked you a question about the Pulitzer Prize. How many judges are there for

the Pulitzer prizes? The choices were:

(a) 9

(b) 22

(c) 102

Jen: And I said B, 22, quite a few of them.

Chris: And I'm afraid you're wrong. The answer is C, 102. The Pulitzer Prizes

comprise twenty-one different categories including journalism, music and

poetry, as well as the fiction award.

Jen: I see.

Chris: OK, we've come to the end of today's programme, Jen. Would you mind

reminding us of some of the words we heard today?

Jen: Of course, they are:

riveting

 a bookworm

 prestigious

 fiction

 an avid reader

a good recommendation

award-winning

shortlisted

worthy

a sign of the times 

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Chris: That's all we have time for today but do join us again for more 6 Minute

English from BBC Learning English. Bye for now!

Jen: Bye!