Work by Modesto Bee journalists honored at Gruner Awards for Central SJ Valley news outlets

Deke Farrow
·2 min read

Competing in the large-newspapers division, Modesto Bee journalists won three first-place awards and three honorable mentions Thursday evening at the 35th annual George F. Gruner Awards for news publications in the Central San Joaquin Valley.

Erin Tracy, who covers criminal justice and breaking news, won first place in the best-writing competition for her article “Some Stanislaus victims and families feel betrayed by changes to California murder law. Here’s why.”

The piece examined recent retroactive changes in laws on murder, attempted murder and manslaughter that have given thousands of prisoners statewide the opportunity to petition for resentencing.

For the in-depth report, she interviewed a range of sources, including victims and one of the affected prisoners.

Garth Stapley, the Bee’s Opinions page editor, also won a first place, for best column, for his piece “An apology, if The Modesto Bee really did get deceived by abusive mother — 50 years ago.”

He wrote the column after getting a call from a 70-year-old woman who’d only recently come across a clipping of a 1972 Bee story about her mother. The lauded the mother for her volunteer work, but her daughter said it was “a total misrepresentation, a total lie.”

Stapley also received an honorable mention for best editorial, for “Sexual abuses at Modesto church end with settlements, a step toward healing.”

Ladonna Doshier with her dog Li’l Miss Missy at Fairway Park in Modesto, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Doshier is homeless and living in her car and finds comfort in the companionship of her dog.
Ladonna Doshier with her dog Li’l Miss Missy at Fairway Park in Modesto, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Doshier is homeless and living in her car and finds comfort in the companionship of her dog.

The Bee’s other first-place award went to photojournalist Andy Alfaro in the category of best news or feature photo for “Ladonna Doshier and her dog, Li’l Miss Missy, would benefit from a program for those who live in their cars.” It was featured in a story by Kevin Valine on a proposal for a safe parking program that would provide a place for people who live in their cars to sleep at night.

Central Catholic’s Malachi Miller reacts to fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter of the boys Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 final with Vanden at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
Central Catholic’s Malachi Miller reacts to fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter of the boys Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 final with Vanden at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Alfaro additionally received an honorable mention in in the category of best sports photo for his shot “Central Catholic’s Malachi Miller fouls out at a critical point in the division basketball final.”

Business writer and columnist Marijke Rowland earned an honorable mention for her feature story headlined “National TV ad reveals long-forgotten part of Modesto’s past.”

And sportswriter Quinton Hamilton got an honorable mention in the category of Best Sports Story for “How supply chain issues are affecting Modesto-area football.”

The Gruner awards, named for a former Fresno Bee editor and honoring the best journalism throughout the Central Valley, were established by McClatchy Newspapers and are run by the Fresno State University department of media, communications and journalism.

For a full list of winners, go to www.fresnostatenews.com.