Matt Richtel wins Pulitzer!

Recently, one of Twelve’s own authors, the one and only Matt Richtel (Hooked), was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting! Matt was selected, to quote www.pulitzer.org, for “a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, in print or online or both,” and his series of New York Times articles on the dangers of “distracted driving” are thought provoking, informative, and perhaps most of all, alarming.

“Driven to Distraction,” the aptly named title of Matt’s now Pulitzer-winning article series, focuses on the dangers of driving while using a cell phone (among other devices). Driving while chatting on your mobile, texting a friend, or as will be seen in the near future, browsing the web, is remarkably dangerous – based on a Harvard study, 570,000 car accidents a year are caused by “cell phone distractions.” Matt’s articles cover all areas of this issue, with well-rounded reporting that incorporates car companies, software companies, mobile manufacturers, congress, and protest groups. The “Driven to Distraction” section even includes a nifty little game that simulates a texting-while-driving situation. It’s an excellent and slightly disturbing way of showing just how distracting texting can be. (I failed miserably, but fortunately, like any conscientious person, I don’t use my cell phone while driving.)

Funnily enough, Matt Richtel (under the pseudonym Theron Heir) is also a cartoonist for the hilarious comic strip, “Rudy Park.” Since we’re on the topic of the evils of texting, I thought this accompanying comic would be fitting.

P.S. Here’s a link to Hooked: http://ow.ly/1EkW6. Embedding it causes Blogger to spontaneously combust.

~Marjorie DeWitt