The assassination attempt on Donald Trump during his Butler, Pa., campaign rally was the biggest breaking news story of 2024. On the ground in Butler, Pa., The Wall Street Journal gave readers real-time updates, first-person accounts, and analysis about the shooting that left one rally-goer dead and others, including the future president, injured.
Among the highlights of the first 72 hours:
The Journal’s coverage continued to be ahead of the pack in the weeks following the shooting. For example, a scoop about how Crooks flew a drone over the Butler rally site hours before the shooting was raised at a Congressional hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray. Another Journal exclusive showed how the Secret Service clashed with local Pennsylvania law enforcement over security risks at the Trump event.
Multiple finalists offered excellent multimedia coverage of an intense, worldwide breaking news event. The winner distinguished itself through its interactivity, in-depth journalism, and comprehensive coverage done in the public interest. By looking at the community of the shooter and the political context of the U.S. elections, the winner helped readers understand the trajectory leading up to the event in addition to its aftermath.
