‘As close as you can get to a professional newsroom’
One day as a student at The University of Texas at Arlington, Reese Dunklin walked into Half Price Books and walked out with an anthology of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize winners. As he read through it, each article and story resonated with him.
“That’s the impactful, award-winning work I want to do,” the journalism major and Shorthorn newspaper staffer thought to himself.
Now, more than 20 years later, Dunklin, who graduated in 1998, has joined a prestigious group: He was part of an Associated Press team named a Pulitzer Prize finalist last month for the project “Lethal Restraint: An investigation documenting police use of force.”
The multi-part investigation, which took about three years to complete, combined more than 7,000 public records requests, video analysis and interviews with experts and families. Dunklin said it showed how more than 1,000 people had died when police used force that was supposed to stop, but not kill, them.
“Our ‘Lethal Restraint’ series inspired new use-of-force guidelines from the nation's preeminent policing organization,” Dunklin wrote on his LinkedIn page. “After publication, ‘Lethal Restraint’ was recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting and our documentary with Frontline secured two nominations for Emmy Awards. We also won a special citation in the Selden Ring Awards and a Best in Show in the National Headliner Awards, whose judges wrote, ‘The Associated Press hit this out of the park.’”
For Dunklin, the recognition is more than personal—it marks a milestone in a career built on persistence, curiosity and a deep commitment to public service journalism. Over the years, his investigative reporting has earned multiple national honors and helped shape public policy. But the Pulitzer recognition, he said, feels like coming full circle.
“The first thing that comes to mind is validation; it shows that this kid from a small town in Texas can go toe-to-toe with the big boys,” said Dunklin, who grew up in nearby Joshua. “The other thing, which is equally important, is that I was able to help make a change in communities across the nation.”
He joins a distinguished group of at least 10 other alumni from The Shorthorn who have been named Pulitzer Prize winners or finalists—a testament to the exceptional preparation the student newspaper provides its journalists.
The Shorthorn has covered campus life since 1919 and continues to train aspiring journalists who go on to work at respected state and national news outlets such as The Dallas Morning News, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Houston Chronicle, KERA, The Texas Tribune, The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Associated Press.
“The Shorthorn community is proud of the accomplishments of Reese and his colleagues and honored to provide a place for him to lay the foundation of his career,” said Kevin Cummings, director of Student Publications. “His recognition as a Pulitzer Prize finalist highlights the dedication to uncovering the truth and the quality of reporting instilled in every journalist who comes through our newsroom, demonstrating that local journalism can have an impact on the national stage.”
Dunklin credits his time at UT Arlington and The Shorthorn with helping develop his journalism chops and work ethic and with teaching him that hard work pays off.
“One of the reasons I transferred to UTA after community college was because of the great work The Shorthorn was doing—I wanted to be part of that,” Dunklin said. “UTA and The Shorthorn laid the fundamentals of my journalism. Working there was as close as you can get to a professional newsroom."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.