These people have won or shared the American Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism (1985–1997), also known as the prize for Explanatory Reporting (1998-present).

See also Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting winners, people who won or shared the prizes for Specialized Reporting (1985–1990) and Beat Reporting (1991–2006). After 2006 the Board observed that various beat reporters contend for the Explanatory, Local, and National Reporting Pulitzers.