Former New Hampshire newspaper editor is named administrator of Pulitzer Prizes

The Pulitzer Prizes, among journalism's highest honors, have a new administrator.

Mike Pride, the former editor of the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire and a former member of the Pulitzer board, was named to the post Tuesday by the board and Columbia University in New York, which administers the prizes.

Pride, 67, was named editor of the Monitor in 1983 and led the paper to several awards, including a Pulitzer in 2008 for feature photography.

He retired in 2008 but returned briefly this year as editor during a management transition. He retired again in May and still writes a column for the Monitor.

Pride served on the Pulitzer board from 1999 to 2008 and was also a Pulitzer juror four times.

"His deep experience with the prizes equips him brilliantly to help us navigate the new while also steering a course true to our original values," board chairman Danielle Allen said in a statement, citing Pride's commitment to free press and community journalism as making him ideal for the job.

Pride replaces Sig Gissler, who is retiring. The appointment is effective Sept. 1.

"In a rapidly changing social and technological age, the Pulitzer Prizes remain a beacon, defining and championing the values of a free press," Pride said in a statement. "I look forward to doing all in my power to keep their light strong."