San Francisco Chronicle Photographer Lacy Atkins Is Finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 14, 2014) - The San Francisco Chronicle announced today that photographer Lacy Atkins is a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Featured Photography for her work on "Even Odds," a story about the fear, struggles and loss that African American males face in Oakland and the city's attempt to address them.

Atkins worked tirelessly to understand the subjects and their personal struggles, even during a difficult time when her own partner was battling cancer. Her dedication to her work and subjects is evident in the profound nature of her photography.

Managing Editor Audrey Cooper said, "Lacy's accomplishment is an amazing professional achievement made under extraordinary personal circumstances. Only a journalist of Lacy's caliber would be able to gain such intimate access to this Oakland community, as evidenced by her moving imagery. It's a testament not only to her talent, but the vision of The Chronicle's phenomenal photo department and our newsroom's continued push to tell the complete and moving stories of our region."

"This is a very proud day for the San Francisco Chronicle. We are so appreciative of Lacy's hard work and dedication to her craft. Our editorial team strives to inform, energize and provoke its readers and Lacy's photographs for 'Even Odds' certainly did that," added Publisher Jeff Johnson. "We are honored by the Pulitzer board's recognition."

Atkins has been photographing life in and around the Bay Area for the past 16 years and was recently the recipient of the first place award for Feature Photography for the 2014 Pictures of the Year International Competition for her work on "Even Odds." In 1992, Lacy was part of the team from the Los Angeles Times that won a Pulitzer Prize in sport news for the Los Angeles riots. She was also a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer prize for her photo of U.S. Women's Soccer player Brandy Chastain exulting after her winning goal in the 1999 Women's World Cup.

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The San Francisco Chronicle is the largest newspaper in Northern California and the second largest on the West Coast. Acquired by Hearst Corporation in 2000, the San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 by Charles and Michael de Young and has been awarded six Pulitzer Prizes for journalistic excellence. Combined with its online counterpart, SFGate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle reaches 22 million users each month.

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