. . . we'll know whether M.L. Elrick and Jim Schaefer earn journalism's top honor for reporting on you-know-what.



Some national media watchers believe they're favorites for the investigative reporting Pulitzer Prize, though judges could move the entry to public service [[awarded to the newspaper).

The hometown heroes and Free Press newsroom colleagues last month received a $20,000 investigative journalism prize at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Whatever is announced next Monday afternoon, try to ignore the predictably bitter bile sure to flow from Joel Thurtell. He may have valid gripes against his ex-bosses, but the Freep's game-changing work last year is a reminder of why strong local papers are indispensible.

Or should be.