ProPublica is proud to announce that A.C. Thompson is this year’s winner of the American Society of News Editors Batten Medal for individual achievement in public-service journalism. Thompson won for his series of reports about post-Hurricane Katrina violence in New Orleans. His investigations led to the convictions of three officers who worked for the New Orleans Police Department, federal hate crimes charges brought against a local vigilante and several federal investigations into the conduct of the NOLA PD.

The Batten Medal is named in honor of newspaper executive and editor James K. Batten and it recognizes “a body of work covering a period of up to three years, that represents the journalistic values Jim stood for: compassion, courage, humanity and a deep concern for the underdog. In short, journalism that makes a difference in the lives of real people and their communities.”

The award marks the fourth major journalism award Thompson has received for his New Orleans coverage. Congratulations A.C.