In addition to Healey and Gelb, the programs will be overseen by a committee of nine members, which includes Alan Brinkley, an author and history professor at Columbia University; Nicholas Lemann, an author and Washington Editor of the Atlantic Monthly; Kari Marton, author and human rights activist and Vartan Gregorian, the president of The Carnegie Corporation and former president of Brown University.

Lukas won a second Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for his book, Common Ground, which examined the effects of busing intended to end de facto school segregation. The book chronicles the policy's effect on three Boston families.

Common Ground represents Lukas' journalistic legacy, said Brent A. Staples, a member of the prize committee and member of the Editorial Board at The New York Times.

"Tony contributed to the literature exhaustedly reported books that brought out the history of people and places," Staples said.

Healey said his approach reflected Lukas' concern for people.

"Tony really cared about people and he felt the in reporting on issues it was essential to look at the interaction between individuals and what the issue was," Healey said.

Gelb said that support for the project has been immense.

"Everyone will be contributing... Tony was so popular and admired as a writer," Gelb said.