AP
 
New York, Apr 17: The Wall Street Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday, including the public service award for its coverage of the stock-options scandal that rattled corporate America in 2006.

The Associated Press captured one for breaking news photography for a picture of a Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

The Journal, the only multiple winner this year, also won in international reporting for its coverage of how capitalism is emerging in China.

Kenneth R Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis of the Los Angeles Times won for explanatory reporting for their reports on the world's distressed oceans.

The staff of The (Portland) Oregonian won for breaking news for its coverage of a family that disappeared in the mountains during a blizzard.

Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (Alabama) News won for investigative reporting for his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system.

Charlie Savage of The Boston Globe won for national reporting for his revelations that President George W Bush often used "signing statements" to assert his controversial right to bypass provisions of new laws.

Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald was honoured for local reporting for reports on waste, favouritism and lack of oversight at the Miami housing agency.

Andrea Elliott of The New York Times won for feature writing for coverage of an immigrant imam striving to serve his faithful in America.

The Daily News of New York was honoured for editorial writing for its editorials on behalf of Ground Zero workers.

Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution won the commentary prize.

Newsday's Walt Handelsan was honoured for editorial cartooning.

Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly was cited for criticism for his restaurant reviews.

The AP's Oded Balilty won for breaking news photography for his image of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.

Renee C Byer of The Sacramento (California) Bee was honoured for feature photography for her portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with cancer.

In addition, the Pulitzer board gave special recognition to Iranian photographer Jahangir Razmi, whose 1979 picture of a firing squad in his native country won the 1980 Pulitzer for spot news photography. He remained anonymous until a Wall Street Journal reporter unmasked his identity in a December article.

Winners in every category except for public service receive a $ 10,000 cash award and a certificate. The public service winner is awarded a gold medal.

The awards are given by Columbia University on the recommendation of the 18-member Pulitzer board.

The board this year replaced the beat reporting category with a local reporting category.

The Pulitzers were created under the terms of the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who died in 1911. He endowed the journalism school at Columbia, and dictated that money be set aside for the prizes. The first awards were handed out in 1917.