The Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting has been presented since 1991 for a distinguished example of beat reporting characterized by sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity.

• 1991: Natalie Angier , New York Times, for her compelling and illuminating reports on a variety of scientific topics.
• 1992: Deborah Blum , Sacramento Bee (California) , for her series, "The Monkey Wars," which explored the complex ethical and moral questions surrounding primate research .
• 1993: Paul Ingrassia and Joseph B. White , Wall Street Journal, for often exclusive coverage of General Motors' management turmoil.
• 1994: Eric Freedman and Jim Mitzelfeld , Detroit News, for dogged reporting that disclosed flagrant spending abuses at Michigan's House Fiscal Agency.
• 1995: David Shribman , Boston Globe, for his analytical reporting on Washington developments and the national scene.
• 1996: Bob Keeler , Newsday, for his detailed portrait of a progressive local Catholic parish and its parishioners.
• 1997: Byron Acohido , Seattle Times, for his coverage of the aerospace industry, notably an exhaustive investigation of rudder control problems on the Boeing 737, which contributed to new FAA requirements for major improvements.
• 1998: Linda Greenhouse , New York Times, for her consistently illuminating coverage of the United States Supreme Court.
• 1999: Chuck Philips and Michael A. Hiltzik , Los Angeles Times, for their stories on corruption in the entertainment industry, including a charity sham sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences , illegal detoxification programs for wealthy celebrities, and a resurgence of radio payola.
• 2000: George Dohrmann , Saint Paul Pioneer Press, for his determined reporting, despite negative reader reaction, that revealed academic fraud in the men’s basketball program at the University of Minnesota.
• 2001: David Cay Johnston, New York Times, for his penetrating and enterprising reporting that exposed loopholes and inequities in the U.S. tax code, which was instrumental in bringing about reforms.
• 2002: Gretchen Morgenson , New York Times, for her trenchant and incisive Wall Street coverage.
• 2003: Diana K. Sugg , Baltimore Sun, for her absorbing, often poignant stories that illuminated complex medical issues through the lives of people.
• 2004: Daniel Golden , Wall Street Journal, for his compelling and meticulously documented stories on admission preferences given to the children of alumni and donors at American universities.