{{Short description|Newspaper in Modesto, California}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = The Modesto Bee | logo = The Modesto Bee logo.svg | image = The Modesto Bee front page.jpg | image_size = 225px | caption = The July 27, 2005 front page<br />of ''The Modesto Bee''. | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | founded = 1868 (as ''Tuolumne City News'') | ceased_publication = | owners = McClatchy | founder = J.D. Spencer | language = English | political_position = | circulation = 29,108 Daily <br/> 25,098 Sunday | circulation_date = 2020 | circulation_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-29 |title=McClatchy {{!}} Markets |url=https://www.mcclatchy.com/our-impact/markets/the-modesto-bee/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129124420/https://www.mcclatchy.com/our-impact/markets/the-modesto-bee/ |archive-date=2021-11-29 }}</ref> | publishing_city = | publishing_country = | headquarters = 948 11th St., #300,<br/> Modesto, CA 95354. | ISSN = | website = {{URL|modbee.com}} }}
'''''The Modesto Bee''''' is a California newspaper. It is delivered throughout central California, reaching places such as Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Ceres, Patterson and Sonora.
== History ==
=== ''Modesto News'' === In February 1868, John Dillard Spencer founded the ''Tuolumne City News,'' a weekly newspaper in Tuolumne City, California.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1868 |title=To The Public. |work=Stanislaus County Weekly News |location=Modesto, California |pages=2}}</ref> About two years later the paper relocated to Modesto and was renamed to the ''Stanislaus County News.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1870 |title=To Our Readers. |work=Stanislaus County Weekly News |location=Modesto, California |pages=2}}</ref> In December 1884, Spencer launched a daily edition of his paper titled the ''Daily Evening News.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1884 |title=Daily Evening News. |work=The Oakdale Graphic |pages=4}}</ref> Spencer went on to be a state assemblyman and state senator who published the paper for nearly three decades.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=December 13, 1895 |title=Death of J.D. Spencer |work=The Expositor |pages=1 |publication-place=Fresno, California}}</ref> In December 1895, Spencer died.<ref name=":0" /> His family continued to publish the paper. In January 1911, Mrs. M.A. Spencer and her son Herbert Spencer sold the ''News'' to O.E. Pergio, of Oakland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1911 |title=Under New Management |work=Oakdale Leader |pages=1}}</ref> A year later the paper was sold again by H. F. Spencer, A.L. Cowell and J.W. Guyler to another trio of men: E.L. Sherman and brothers Stanley T. Morgan and O.T. Morgan. The brothers were formerly connected with the ''Reno Gazette''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1912 |title=Modesto News Again Changes Ownership |work=Modesto Morning Herald |pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1913 |title=Bouquets From Scribbing Friends |work=The Modesto Bee |pages=8}}</ref>
=== ''Modesto Herald'' === In January 1875, H.E. Luther founded the ''Modesto Herald''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 29, 1875 |title=Publications |work=Daily Evening Herald |location=Stockton, California |pages=3}}</ref> In August 1887, the ''Herald'' was bought by S.L. Hanscom, a former school teacher.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 4, 1887 |title=Modesto "Herald" Changes Hands. |work=San Francisco Chronicle |pages=8}}</ref> Under Hanscom, the ''Herald'' was a Republican paper, picked political fights and was controversial. It was antagonistic of local city and county administrators and persistently anti-saloon. Hanscom always kept a loaded revolver at his desk and was frequently accompanied in town by a bodyguard.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Elias |first=Solomon Philip |url=https://www.goldennuggetlibrary.sfgenealogy.org/solch_32.htm |title=Stories of Stanislaus – A Collection of Stories on the History & Achievements of Stanislaus County |publisher=Unknown |year=1924 |location=Modesto, California |pages=275–286 |chapter=CHAPTER XXXII {{!}} Pioneer Editors and Journals |lccn=24006119 |oclc=5063117 |access-date=September 10, 2025}}</ref> In February 1888, Hanscom was attacked at the post office by an angry reader who had demanded he retract an article. After a few hits, the man drew a pistol but was detained by a bystander and Hanscom fled.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 3, 1888 |title=An Interupted Combat |work=The Modesto Bee |pages=3}}</ref>
In April 1888, Hanscom was awarded $850 by a jury in a lawsuit against the paper's former owner, Dr. T.W. Drullard. Hanscom had sought to recover $1,400 in damages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 11, 1888 |title=Notice |work=The Oakdale Graphic |pages=8}}</ref> In August 1889, another angry reader attempted to shoot Hanscom at his office but Hanscom was able to knock the gun upward before it fired. The bullet grazed Hanscom's face and he pulled out his own pistol. A fight ensued and police eventually arrived to arrest the attacker.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 9, 1889 |title=Duel In A Print Shop. {{!}} A Modesto Man Goes Gunning for the Editor. |work=Los Angeles Herald |pages=8}}</ref> That October, Hanscom was sued for libel in regards to a story he published on an election board stuffing a ballot-box. A jury acquitted him and the members of the board left the county.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 5, 1889 |title=On Top. {{!}} Editor Hanscom Vindicated and the Ring Demoralized. |work=The Daily Morning Republican |location=Fresno, California |pages=1}}</ref>
In September 1892, Hanscom retired from the ''Herald'' and was succeeded by T.C. Hocking.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1892 |title=The Change. |work=Stanislaus County Weekly News |location=Modesto, California |pages=4}}</ref> In 1920, a group of Modesto businessmen purchased the ''Herald'' from Hocking for $100,000. L.A. Ferris was then named ''Herald'' editor and manager.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 22, 1920 |title=Modesto Herald Is Sold To Syndicate |work=Turlock Tribune |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1920 |title=Modesto Herald Sold To Former 'Y' Man |work=The Register |location=Santa Ana, California |pages=5}}</ref>
=== ''Modesto Bee'' === In March 1921, the ''Modesto'' ''News'' became solely owned by E.L. Sherman.<ref name=":1" /> In November 1924, Sherman purchased the ''Modesto Morning Herald''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1924 |title=Modesto News Purchases Herald |work=Turlock Journal |pages=6}}</ref> The papers were merged together to form the ''Modesto News-Herald.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=E.L. |date=November 25, 1924 |title=An Announcement! |work=Modesto Morning Herald |pages=1}}</ref> In June 1925, Charles K. McClatchy launched a Modesto edition of ''The Fresno Bee'' called the ''Modesto Bee''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 9, 1925 |title=New Daily Will Open on Monday In City Modesto {{!}} McClatchy of Fresno Bee Is Expanding, Says N.C. Baumunk |work=The Record |location=Stockton, California |pages=17}}</ref> The paper ceased after two weeks due to lack of subscriptions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1925 |title=Modesto Bee Is Suspended |work=Visalia Times-Delta |pages=11}}</ref> In August 1927, McClatchy bought the ''News-Herald'' from Sherman.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 23, 1927 |title=Modesto News-Herald Bought by McClatchys |work=The Morning Press |pages=1 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The paper's name was changed in July 1933 to the ''Modesto Bee and News-Herald''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 29, 1933 |title=Modesto News-Herald Now Modesto Bee |work=Vallejo Evening News |pages=4}}</ref> The name was shortened to ''The Modesto Bee'' in 1975.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Silva |first=Jim |date=April 1, 2022 |title=About Us |url=https://www.modbee.com/customer-service/about-us |access-date=September 10, 2025 |work=The Modesto Bee}}</ref>
In May 2024, the newspaper announced it will reduce its print days to three a week: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Virgen |first=Carlos |date=May 3, 2024 |title=Modesto Bee to change print days, delivery method as digital transition evolves |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article288246970.html |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Modesto Bee}}</ref>
== See also == * {{Portal inline|California}} * {{Portal inline|Journalism}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.modbee.com/}} * [http://m.modbee.com ''The Modesto Bee'' official mobile website] * [http://www.modbee.com/site-services/rss/ ''The Modesto Bee'' RSS feeds] * [http://www.mcclatchy.com/146/story/439.html The McClatchy Company's subsidiary profile of ''The Modesto Bee''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109190208/http://www.mcclatchy.com/146/story/439.html |date=2006-11-09 }}
{{McClatchy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Modesto Bee}} Category:1868 establishments in California Category:Newspapers established in 1868 Category:Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in the United States Category:Culture of Modesto, California Category:Daily newspapers published in California Category:Mass media in Stanislaus County, California Category:McClatchy publications Category:Modesto, California Category:Newspapers published in California