By: (AP)
The Washington Post won the Associated Press Managing Editors' Public Service Award Friday for an investigation into the neglect and deaths of hundreds of children in protective care in the nation's capital.
The Muskegon (Mich.)
Chronicle won among newspapers with circulation under 50,000 for aggressively reporting a story of rape and bureaucratic bungling that led to the death of an infant delivered by a young rape victim in a high school bathroom.
The awards were presented during the editors' association's 69th annual conference in Baltimore.
APME immediate past President Chris Peck, who participated in the judging in July in New York, said the quality of entries in this year's competition was extraordinarily strong. "It is strong proof that newspapers are committed to doing journalism of service to the public," he said.
Finalists among newspapers with 50,000 circulation and above were:
* The Wall Street Journal, for its accounts of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks despite having to evacuate its offices, heavily damaged in the collapse of the World Trade Center.
* Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for a series on how mentally ill and emotionally disturbed teens languish in detention centers and corrections facilities for months, even years.
* Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, for an investigation of wrongdoing that led to the indictment and removal from office of four of five county commissioners.
* Mobile (Ala.) Register, for examination of mercury poisoning in coastal waters.
* The Detroit News, for an examination of the high degree of racial segregation in the metropolitan area and a look at its consequences.
* San Francisco Chronicle, for a study on how tens of millions of workers are losing legal rights in workplace arbitration.
* Times Union, Albany, N.Y., for not only reporting on the impact of underage drinking but working to get the information into the hands of young readers.
* The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for a series of articles on ethical and other lapses by public officials.
* Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, for a report on criminals and others with questionable backgrounds landing child care jobs.
* The Eagle-Tribune, Lawrence, Mass., for a major report on a dramatically increased Hispanic population and the impact on the community.
* The Philadelphia Inquirer, for a package examining why drunk driving statistics increased after years of decline.
* The News Journal, Wilmington, Del., for an investigation of the Delaware River and Bay Authority spending, prompting a review of travel policy and expenses.
Finalists in the under 50,000 circulation category were:
* Greeley (Colo.) Daily Tribune, for taking extra steps to accurately report on the local Hispanic community.
* Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun, for reports of mismanagement and fraud at the Springfield Urban League and Community Center.
* The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va., for accounts of misuse of public money by a local election official.
* The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif., for a series reporting on the lack of affordable housing for most residents and possible solutions.
In addition to Peck, judges were APME President Caesar Andrews, editor of Gannett News Service; David Hawpe, vice president and editorial director of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.; Pam Johnson, a member of the leadership and management faculty at the Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Jerry Ceppos, vice president/news for Knight Ridder, San Jose, Calif.; and Mike Silverman, managing editor of The Associated Press. Hawpe, Johnson and Ceppos also are past presidents of APME.
Judges abstained on voting for entries from their newspapers.
The APME is an organization of editors and managing editors of the AP's more than 1,500 member newspapers.
http://www.apme.com
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