About the lab

There are many sides to Modesto: Residents living west of Highway 99 and those living east. Residents living with sidewalks and street lights, and those going without. Residents with easy access to food, education, healthcare and transportation and those striving for access. Residents who feel they are engaged with city and county leaders and those who do not.

Our Economic Mobility Lab will consist of reporters to cover our Latino and underserved neighborhoods, economic development and education — with an acute focus on how residents in all areas of Modesto and Stanislaus County can overcome systemic roadblocks like neighborhood and family infrastructure, access to government and political strength to help improve their lives.

Our team will seek to examine the reasons why the divide is growing, ask the tough questions and help find solutions to inequalities that have long been present but ignored.

What we'll do

Our three reporters will cover underserved communities, education and economic development. They will be led by an editor whose sole focus will be on this team.

They'll use solutions-based journalism that looks to better understand root causes, and illuminate and solve for issues of impact. Their singular beats will allow us to more deeply investigate and report out on areas of concern and highlight successes in Stanislaus County. We will look for ways to create dialogue among residents and write both about and for underrepresented groups within the county.

Our team will continue The Bee’s approach to community involvement highlighted in the last year by video Q&As with our funded health reporter, candidate debates and partnerships with community organizations.

Statement of Editorial Independence

Editorial independence has been a core value at The Modesto Bee for nearly 100 years. We strive to deliver high-impact journalism in the public interest. While we value the support and partnership of our funding partners, outside funders will not have any editorial oversight, approval or influence over the content produced by the fellow or other members of The Modesto Bee newsroom.

FAQ

DO FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT IS REPORTED?
Editorial independence has been a core value at The Modesto Bee for nearly 100 years. We strive to deliver high-impact journalism in the public interest. While we value the support and partnership of our funding partners, outside funders will not have any editorial oversight, approval or influence over the content produced by the fellow or other members of The Modesto Bee newsroom.

WHAT OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECEIVED FOUNDATION FUNDING?
The Seattle Times launched an Education Lab years ago that is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and City University of Seattle. The Miami Herald received support form the Rockefeller Foundation to cover Puerto Rico’s recovery from Maria. The Fresno Bee, The Sacramento Bee, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Vox Media, and other public media such as NPR and PBS have all accepted foundation funding.

WILL THIS EFFORT REPLACE THE MODESTO BEE’S REGULAR REPORTING ON KEY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY?
No, these are new positions. The Bee will still continue to provide breaking news coverage and cover housing, transportation, water, and infrastructure.

WHAT IS ECONOMIC MOBILITY?
It's the ability of an individual, family or some other group to improve their economic status – usually measured in income. Family, education, neighborhoods, health and access to good-paying jobs all play a role in economic mobility outcomes. Stanislaus County lags behind several California counties in economic mobility. Our lab's reporters will shed light on opportunities and examine programs to see what’s working – and what’s not working – in hopes of lifting the community.

Support The Lab

Support the Lab by donating to the Economic Mobility Lab Fund at the Stanislaus Community Foundation. In 2021, the foundation launched the McClatchy Local Media Fund, which will help advance local journalism in Stanislaus County over the next three to five years. The Foundation established the fund in an effort to increase civic literacy through the advancement of local journalism, community engagement and storytelling.

Founding contributors: James B. McClatchy Foundation, Stanislaus State University, E.&J. Gallo Winery, Stanislaus Community Foundation, Porges Family Foundation, more than 250 community donors.    

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