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Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.Stranger reporter shares Pulitzer honor with subject of story
on April 17, 2012 @ 10:52 am (Updated: 6:37 am - 4/18/12 )
 According to Sanders, it was Jennifer's bravery and eloquence in describing what had gone on, that enabled him to share the story. |
Last June, the survivor of the horrific South Park attack testified in court against her assailant, the man that also murdered her partner. Eli Sanders, a reporter at The Stranger, penned her story into an award- winning piece.
On Monday, Sanders won the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for "The Bravest Woman in Seattle."
Sanders said the celebration and honor of the award needed to be celebrated with Jennifer, the woman whose story he told.
"She's the one that told this story to a room of media and strangers and people she knew, and court room adversaries, (in the form of the defense attorneys) and relived her ordeal on the public record, for the hope of justice and to bear witness to what had happened to her and her partner that night in South Park."
Thanks to Jennifer's testimony, Isaiah Kalebu was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted murder, rape and burglary.
According to Sanders, it was Jennifer's bravery and eloquence in describing what had gone on, that enabled him to share the story.
"But her telling of the story came first," he told 97.3 KIRO FM's Ross & Burbank.
"It's been wonderful to share it with Jennifer. She came over to our office pretty shortly after we heard about this and met people who she hadn't met at The Stranger until yesterday, and toasted with us, and shared what was a wonderful day."
The award was the seventh Pulitzer given to an alt-weekly newspaper.
While Sanders knew he was nominated, he didn't think that he'd won when he checked the website Monday morning to find out who had received the award.
He went into the office of Stranger editor Christopher Frizelle. 'Is this real?' he asked.
"It's been wonderful and overwhelming," said Sanders, "an avalanche of communication by every means possible from a lot of people all across the country and people in other parts of the world."
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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