The Pulitzer Prize for Criticism has been presented since 1970 to a newspaper writer who has demonstrated 'distinguished criticism'. Recipients of the award are chosen by an independent board and officially administered by Columbia University.

• 1970: Ada Louise Huxtable , New York Times, for distinguished criticism during 1969.
• 1971: Harold C. Schonberg, New York Times, for his music criticism during 1970.
• 1972: Frank Peters Jr. , St. Louis Post-Dispatch, for his music criticism during 1971.
• 1973: Ronald Powers , Chicago Sun-Times, for his critical writing about television during 1972.
• 1974: Emily Genauer , Newsday, for her critical writing about art and artists.
• 1975: Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, for his film criticism during 1974.
• 1976: Alan M. Kriegsman , Washington Post, for his critical writing about dance during 1975.
• 1977: William McPherson , Washington Post, for his contribution to "Book World."
• 1978: Walter Kerr, New York Times, for articles on the theater in 1977 and throughout his long career.
• 1979: Paul Gapp , Chicago Tribune, architecture
• 1980: William A. Henry III , Boston Globe, for critical writing about television.
• 1981: Jonathan Yardley , Washington Star, for his book reviews.
• 1982: Martin Bernheimer , Los Angeles Times, for classical music criticism.
• 1983: Manuela Hoelterhoff , Wall Street Journal, for her wide-ranging criticism on the arts and other subjects.
• 1984: Paul Goldberger , New York Times, for architectural criticism.
• 1985: Howard Rosenberg , Los Angeles Times, for his television criticism.
• 1986: Donal Henehan , New York Times, for his music criticism.
• 1987: Richard Eder , Los Angeles Times, for his book reviews.
• 1988: Tom Shales, Washington Post, for his television criticism.
• 1989: Michael Skube , News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), for his writing about books and other literary topics.
• 1990: Allan Temko , San Francisco Chronicle, for his architecture criticism.
• 1991: David Shaw , Los Angeles Times, for his critiques of the way in which the media, including his own paper, reported the McMartin Pre-School child molestation case .
• 1992: no award given
• 1993: Michael Dirda , Washington Post, for his book reviews.
• 1994: Lloyd Schwartz , Boston Phoenix, for his skillful and resonant classical music criticism.
• 1995: Margo Jefferson , New York Times, for her book reviews and other cultural criticism.
• 1996: Robert Campbell, Boston Globe, for his knowledgeable writing on architecture.
• 1997: Tim Page, Washington Post, for his lucid and illuminating music criticism.
• 1998: Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, for her passionate, intelligent writing on books and contemporary literature.
• 1999: Blair Kamin , Chicago Tribune, for his lucid coverage of city architecture, including an influential series supporting the development of Chicago's lakefront area.
• 2000: Henry Allen , Washington Post, for his fresh and authoritative writing on photography.
• 2001: Gail Caldwell , Boston Globe, for her insightful observations on contemporary life and literature.
• 2002: Justin Davidson , Newsday, for his crisp coverage of classical music that captures its essence.
• 2003: Stephen Hunter, Washington Post, for his authoritative film criticism that is both intellectually rewarding and a pleasure to read.
• 2004: Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times, for his one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural observations.