A year ago, the Board broadened the competition to include many news outlets in the United States that publish on the Internet at least weekly, but it required that all entered material had to come from outlets "primarily dedicated to original news reporting and coverage of ongoing events."

The requirement sometimes excluded promising entries by online columnists, critics and bloggers because of their Web affiliation, according to Sig Gissler, administrator of the Prizes.

"The revised rule will provide more flexibility as we focus on the merit of an entry rather than the mission of the Web site where it appeared," Gissler said.

The Board said it will continue to exclude entries from magazines and broadcast media as well as their websites.

The revised eligibility rule now reads:

"Entries for journalism awards must be based on material coming from a text-based United States newspaper or news site that publishes at least weekly during the calendar year and that adheres to the highest journalistic principles. Magazines and broadcast media, and their respective Web sites, are not eligible."

In 2009, online-only sites that publish at least weekly were eligible for the competition, if the met the original- reporting requirement. The Board also allowed entries made up entirely of online content to be submitted in all 14 Pulitzer journalism categories.

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Submissions are required to be text-based and come from online- only publications from the United Sates. The submissions should come from online news organizations that publish at least weekly. Entries comprised of entirely online content can be submitted in all 14 Pulitzer journalism categories.

"This is an important step forward, reflecting our continued commitment to American newspapers as well as our willingness to adapt to the remarkable growth of online journalism," said Sig Gissler, administrator of the Prizes.

"The new rules enlarge the Pulitzer tent and recognize more fully the role of the Web, while underscoring the enduring value of words and of serious reporting."

Gissler said the Board will continue to follow the impact of the Internet.

Beginning in 2006, online content from newspaper Web sites was allowed in all Pulitzer journalism categories, but online- only newspapers were not permitted to submit entries. Entirely online entries were allowed in only two categories, breaking news coverage and breaking news photography.

In addition to text stories, the competition will continue to allow a full range of online content, such as interactive graphics and video in nearly all categories. Two photography categories will continue to restrict entries to still images.