It started out as a disappearance. By the time the Portland Oregonian was done chronicling the story nearly three weeks later, the paper had uncovered a human error that led to the very preventable death of a father of two in a heartbreaking story that captured the nation's attention.

The Oregonian won one of 14 Pulitzer Prizes awarded yesterday for its coverage of the Kim family’s tragic Thanksgiving trip. The prizes were handed out by the Columbia University School of Journalism.

The paper was recognized for breaking news coverage for its series on the California family’s disappearance during a blizzard in the Southern Oregon woods, in coverage that included extensive online writeups.

James Kim, an editor at CNET Networks, wife Kati and their two young daughters went missing several days after a Thanksgiving trip to the Northwest when they took a wrong turn on the way home and their car got stuck on a snowy road. The Oregonian published its first story on the family Dec. 2, 2006, reporting on their disappearance.

In the following days, the newspaper chronicled how rescuers found Kati and her kids, who had burned the tires on their Saab to stay warm during their nine-day ordeal. Her husband had left to try to find help, and hundreds of rescue workers tried to find him as well-wishers flooded the CNET forums with prayers for his safe recovery.

Two days later, James’ body was found, and days later The Oregonian discovered that workers had mistakenly left the entrance to the park open, leading the Kims into the maze of unlabeled park roads where they became stranded. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management had originally blamed vandals for leaving the gate open.

The Oregonian also was a finalist in two other Pulitzer categories, national reporting and feature writing, the first time it has had three finalists in one year.

The Wall Street Journal was the only newspaper to win more than one award, in public service and international reporting.

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe all received one.

The complete list of Pulitzer winners and finalists: 

PUBLIC SERVICE  

For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources which, as well as reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics and online material, a gold medal.

Awarded to The Wall Street Journal for its creative and comprehensive probe into backdated stock options for business executives that triggered investigations, the ouster of top officials and widespread change in corporate America.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Birmingham (Ala.) News for the work of Brett Blackledge that exposed cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system, resulting in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action (Moved by the Board to the Investigative Reporting category), and The Washington Post for its extensive examination of waste and abuse in the nation's farm subsidy system, prodding Congress to address the need for fundamental reform.

BREAKING NEWS REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news, presented in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to the Staff of The Oregonian, Portland, for its skillful and tenacious coverage of a family missing in the Oregon mountains, telling the tragic story both in print and online.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Staff of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., for its clear and authoritative reporting on the crash of a Comair commuter jet that killed 49 people, and The Denver Post Staff for its compelling and notably human coverage of back-to-back blizzards that trapped travelers and paralyzed the region.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (Ala.) News for his exposure of cronyism and corruption in the state's two-year college system, resulting in the dismissal of the chancellor and other corrective action. (Moved by the Board from the Public Service category.)

Nominated as finalists in this category were: Ken Armstrong, Justin Mayo and Steve Miletich of The Seattle Times for their series that exposed how the improper sealing of hundreds of lawsuits hid information vital to public safety, and resulted in remedial judicial steps; Michael J. Berens, Julia Sommerfeld and Carol Ostrom of The Seattle Times for their probe of sexual misconduct by health-care professionals that included creation of an extensive online database of offenders and caused a tightening of state regulation; and Lisa Chedekel and Matthew Kauffman of The Hartford Courant for their in-depth reports on suicide among American soldiers in Iraq, leading to congressional and military action to address mental health problems raised in the stories.

EXPLANATORY REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Kenneth R. Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis of the Los Angeles Times for their richly portrayed reports on the world's distressed oceans, telling the story in print and online, and stirring reaction among readers and officials.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore of The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, for their provocative examination of the United States' increasing reliance on private military personnel, and The New York Times Staff for its multi-faceted explanation of the growing menace of diabetes, especially among the poor and vulnerable, that elicited a range of public and private responses.

LOCAL REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of local reporting that illuminates significant issues or concerns, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald for reports on waste, favoritism and lack of oversight at the Miami housing agency that resulted in dismissals, investigations and prosecutions.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Boston Globe Staff for its well-documented exposure, in print and online, of unscrupulous debt collectors, causing two firms to close and prompting action by state officials, and Fred Schulte and June Arney of The Baltimore Sun for their reports, in print and online, about abuses under an archaic state law that threatened to turn hundreds out of their homes.

NATIONAL REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Charlie Savage of The Boston Globe for his revelations that President Bush often used "signing statements" to assert his controversial right to bypass provisions of new laws.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Maurice Possley and Steve Mills of the Chicago Tribune for their investigation of a 1989 execution in Texas that strongly suggests an innocent man was killed by lethal injection, and Les Zaitz, Jeff Kosseff and Bryan Denson of The Oregonian, Portland, for their disclosure of mismanagement and other abuses in federally-subsidized programs for disabled workers, stirring congressional action.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTING  

For a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to The Wall Street Journal Staff for its sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China's booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Los Angeles Times Staff for its courageous chronicling of Iraq's descent into what the newspaper labeled "civil war," and Anthony Shadid of The Washington Post for his vivid and insightful coverage of conflict in Lebanon that wove together frontline dispatches, personal history and analysis.

FEATURE WRITING  

For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to quality of writing, originality and concision, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Andrea Elliott of The New York Times for her intimate, richly textured portrait of an immigrant imam striving to find his way and serve his faithful in America.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Christopher Goffard of the St. Petersburg Times for his fresh and compelling stories about a young public defender and his daily challenges, and Inara Verzemnieks of The Oregonian, Portland, for her witty and perceptive portfolio of features on an array of everyday topics.

COMMENTARY  

For distinguished commentary, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her courageous, clear-headed columns that evince a strong sense of morality and persuasive knowledge of the community.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post for her intelligent and incisive commentary on a range of subjects, using a voice that can be serious or playful, and Joe Nocera of The New York Times for his piercing, authoritative columns on business, often spotlighting misdeeds and flaws in corporate culture.

CRITICISM  

For distinguished criticism, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly for his zestful, wide ranging restaurant reviews, expressing the delight of an erudite eater.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times for his pieces on art that reflect meticulous reporting, aesthetic judgment and authoritative voice, and Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times for his passionate music criticism, marked by resonant writing and an ability to give life to the people behind a performance.

EDITORIAL WRITING  

For distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to the Editorial Board of the New York Daily News for its compassionate and compelling editorials on behalf of Ground Zero workers whose health problems were neglected by the city and the nation.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Jane Healy of The Orlando Sentinel for her persuasive heavily reported editorials on development projects that imperiled Florida's wetlands and wildlife, and Sebastian Mallaby of The Washington Post for his eloquent, rigorously researched editorials on rising inequality in America.

EDITORIAL CARTOONING  

For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Walt Handelsman of Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., for his stark, sophisticated cartoons and his impressive use of zany animation.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Nick Anderson of The Houston Chronicle for his pungent cartoons on an array of issues, and for his bold use of animation, and Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press for his compelling cartoons that rely on rich detail and deft caricature to make their point and for using animation to widen his impact.

BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY  

For a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album, in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Oded Balilty of The Associated Press for his powerful photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Associated Press Staff for its breathtaking images of brutal warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, and Michael Bryant of The Philadelphia Inquirer for his poignant photographs of the devastating injury to Barbaro, the famed racehorse.

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY  

For a distinguished example of feature photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Renée C. Byer of The Sacramento Bee for her intimate portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with cancer.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Mary F. Calvert of The Washington Times for her haunting depiction of sub-Sahara African women afflicted with fistula after childbirth, and Gary Coronado of The Palm Beach Post for his vivid images of Central Americans who, desperate to enter America illegally, risk their lives leaping on Mexican freight trains rumbling northward.