New York ? The Lawrence Journal-World was a finalist in the contest for the 34th annual Associated Press Managing Editors Award for Public Service.

The association of newspaper and online editors announced Monday that Gannett New Jersey papers won the annual award in the over-50,000 daily circulation category, and The Sedalia (Mo.) Democrat won the award for newspapers with less than 50,000 circulation.

In New Jersey, the Asbury Park Press of Neptune, N.J., and six other Gannett newspapers won for a series of stories examining how state lawmakers bankroll friends and party bosses from public funds. In Missouri, the Sedalia newspaper won for uncovering mismanagement in the office of the county public administrator, created to manage and conserve finances of people who cannot take care of themselves.

The Journal-World was one of six finalists picked in the smaller newspaper category. The Kansas newspaper was recognized for reporting on widespread mismanagement and waste in the state’s automobile fleet.

The finalists and winners were selected from more than 100 newspapers that submitted work.

The awards, recognizing “outstanding service to the community, state or nation,” will be presented during the annual APME conference Oct. 13-16 in Louisville, Ky.

“The quality of submitted work this year was truly outstanding,” said APME President Stuart Wilk, who chaired the judging prior to the summer meeting of the association’s board of directors. Wilk, vice president and associate editor of The Dallas Morning News, added: “It is heartening to see so many newspapers committed to looking at their communities and striving to serve the public interest.”