Harvey Weinstein accusers attend Pulitzer awards ceremony

2018 Pulitzer Prize winners pose for pictures during the awards luncheon and ceremony at Columbia University on Wednesday May 30, 2018, in New York. AP

2018 Pulitzer Prize winners for public service journalism, Megan Twohey, left, Jodi Kantor, centre, and Ronan Farrow, right, pose after accepting their awards. AP

The Reuters Pulitzer Prize winning photography team of (L-R) Adnan Abidi, Cathal McNaughton, Danish Siddiqui, Hannah McKay, Damir Sagolj, Soe Zeya Tun and Mohammad Ponir Hossain pose for a photo. Reuters

Pulitzer Prize winner for music Kendrick Lamar, left front, stands next to the winner for feature writing GQ freelancer Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah. AP

Judges took a large step away from years of tradition that saw classical and jazz artists winning the prize to bestow it on rapper-songwriter Lamar for his album DAMN AP

With two of Harvey Weinstein's accusers watching from the audience, journalists whose work led to the Hollywood mogul's downfall and arrest received their Pulitzer Prize awards on Wednesday at an event honouring them and the other winners.

The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine received the gold medal for public service for reporting on decades of sexual abuse allegations against Weinstein.

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The stories by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey of The Times and Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker were a catalyst for a reckoning on powerful men and the way some have been accused of misusing that power that has since spread as the #MeToo movement.

Joining the luncheon at Columbia University in support of the journalistic work were Rosanna Arquette and Annabella Sciorra. The actresses are among those who have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, allegations he denies.

Farrow was also joined by his mother, actress Mia Farrow, who said, "This is one of the proudest days of my life." Speaking of her son, who has gone on to report on other cases of sexual misconduct, Farrow said, "What he's all about is trying to make the good differences."

The Pulitzer Prizes are given out annually to recognise excellence in journalism, literary arts and music. They are administered by Columbia University.

The award for music caused surprise this year, when the judges took a large step away from years of tradition that saw classical and jazz artists winning the prize to bestow it on rapper-songwriter Kendrick Lamar for his album DAMN.

The Grammy Award-winning artist joined the luncheon to receive his award, and both his category and the public service category received thunderous standing ovations from the crowd when they were recognised.