The Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography has been presented since 2000 for a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album.

• 2000: Photographic staff of the Denver Rocky Mountain News , for its photographic coverage of students following the shooting in Columbine.
• 2001: Alan Diaz , Associated Press, for his photograph of federal agents removing Elián González from his uncle's home.
• 2002: Staff of The New York Times, for its coverage of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
• 2003: Photography staff of the Rocky Mountain News , for its powerful, imaginative coverage of Colorado's raging forest fires.
• 2004: David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer , Dallas Morning News, for their eloquent photographs depicting both the violence and poignancy of the war with Iraq.