The National Association of Black Journalists congratulates Michel du Cille, photographer and assistant managing editor for photography at the Washington Post, for winning the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Du Cille was on a team of journalists that won Pulitzer’s top prize for exposing the mistreatment of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital. The series evoked a national outcry and produced reforms by federal officials.

“This is one more example of how NABJ members are always in the forefront in producing great journalism,” said NABJ President Barbara Ciara. “It should send a message to industry leaders that when you seek quality in content look to our membership to fill the bill."

Pulitzers are nothing new to du Cille. His 2008 prize is his third.

In 1985, while on the staff of the Miami Herald, he won a Pulitzer for spot news photography for his coverage of a volcanic eruption in Colombia. He won again in 1987 for a photo essay on crack cocaine addicts in a Miami housing project.

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, du Cille has been a professional news photographer from the age of 17. He joined the Washington Post in 1988 as a picture editor and deputy assistant managing editor.

He became the Post’s assistant managing editor for photography in September 2007.

“Michel has always set the standard for quality journalism and excellent photography,” said Ernie Suggs, NABJ’s vice president of print. “His work on the Walter Reed project helped us all see the horror behind the words and stories we had all read. His vision helped America see.”

The Post won a total of six Pulitzers this year, including the prize for Breaking News for the paper’s coverage of the deadly shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.

Former NABJ President Vanessa Williams and Robert Pierre, a former board member, were cited for their work in getting the story to the Post's Web site.

Columbia University annually bestows the Pulitzers, the country's most prestigious prizes for journalism, on the recommendation of the 18-member Pulitzer board, which considers nominations from jurors in each of 15 categories.

NABJ member Gregory Moore, editor of The Denver Post, is among those serving on the Pulitzer board.