A local newspaper in the US has been awarded a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for coverage of a mass shooting in its own newsroom.

The paper published on schedule the day after the atrocity – believed to be the worst mass attack on journalists in US history.

Employees John McNamara, Wendi Winters, Rebecca Smith, Gerald Fischman and Rob Hiaasen all died during the incident last June.

A reader said to have had a long-standing grudge against the paper has been charged with five counts of murder. Jarrod Ramos will stand trial in November.

Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Show all 10 1 /10 Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Police respond to the shooting in Annapolis, AFP/Getty Images Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Pat Furgurson, staff reporter of the Capital Gazette, reports outside the scene of a shooting EPA/JAY FLEMING Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Police and first responders attend the scebe EPA Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted A member of the FBI responds to the shooting in Annapoli AFP/Getty Images Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Authorities work at the scene AP Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Emergency personnel outside the Capital-Gazette newspaper Getty Images Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Capital Gazette reporter Chase Cook, right, and photographer Joshua McKerrow, left, work on the next days newspaper while awaiting news from their colleagues. AFP/Getty Images Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Police respond to a shooting in Annapolis, Maryland, June 28, 2018. At least five people were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire inside the offices of the Capital Gazette, a newspaper published in Annapolis, a historic city an hour east of Washington.A reporter for the daily, Phil Davis, tweeted that a "gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees.""There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload," Davis said. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images SAUL LOEB AFP/Getty Images Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted "This was a targeted attack on the Capital Gazette," William Krampf, the Anne Arundel County acting police chief, said Thursday evening during a press conference, referring ot the joint name that appears at the office to describe the two papers that work inside. "This person was prepared today to come in. This person was prepared to shoot people. His intent was to cause harm, and as I've stated before, the investigative part of this is going to be thorough, and it's going to take some time," EPA Maryland shooting: Capital Gazette newspaper staff targeted Police secure the scene AP

Speaking shortly after the $100,000 prize was announced on Monday night surviving staff said the recognition was “bittersweet”.

Reporter Chase Cook said: “Since it’s so connected to something so tragic, there was no euphoric pop-off of excitement.”

Editor Rick Hutzell added: “Clearly, there were a lot of mixed feelings. No one wants to win an award for something that kills five of your friends.

“It’s very difficult when you are reporting in some ways on yourself. That’s not what we do. We’re behind the camera, not in front of it.”

He said the newspaper had submitted entries for the Pulitzers in five categories

Although it did not win in any of those, judges awarded the special citation in honour of the Capital’s “courageous response to the largest killing of journalists in US history in their newsroom” and for an “unflagging commitment to covering the news and serving their community at a time of unspeakable grief”.

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