Paul Benoit

Class of 1976

After graduating from RIT, Benoit and a team of Boston Herald American staff photographers won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Photography for their coverage of the blizzard of 1978. Benoit worked Associated Press Boston from 1980-90, The Boston Globe from 1990-2010, and MerlinOne from 2011-16 before retiring.

1979 Winner

A person pulls on string in waist-high snow.

Feature Photography

"For photographic coverage of the blizzard of 1978." - Pulitzer Board

Benoit, as a staff photographer with The Boston Herald-American, had several photos in the staff entry that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

A paper cover story of the Blizzard of 78.

Three people struggle to walk in the blizzard due to freezing wind.

a group of people walking through very high snowfall.

Behind the Scenes

black and white photo of someone pouring a drink on someones head

Boston Herald American staffers celebrate winning the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, including, from left: Angela Kalventous, M. Leo Tierney, Benoit, Frank Hill, Ted Gartland and chief photographer Kevin Cole.

Seven of RIT's alumni who have won a Pulitzer Prize pose for a photo at the Newseum.

Seven of RIT's Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists received the university's Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing Sept. 22, 2011, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Pictured, from left: Ken Geiger, Dan Loh, Robert Bukaty, Anthony Suau, William Snyder, Paul Benoit and Stan Grossfeld.