Two reporters join The Modesto Bee newsroom. Here’s what they’re doing
Two reporters launching their journalism careers have joined The Modesto Bee to cover breaking news and education in Stanislaus County.
Dean Condoleo took over as the breaking news reporter in May after Trevor Morgan switched hats to become The Bee’s accountability reporter. Condoleo first served as an intern at The Bee from July to September 2024, two months after graduating from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
“Trevor was a huge help in telling me what his role was and what he did and how to succeed in it,” he said.
Atmika Iyer joined The Bee on Monday, filling the education reporter role. She completed her master’s program at Northwestern University doing politics, policy and foreign affairs reporting just a week prior.
“Youth deserve to know what’s going on in their world,” said Iyer, who was a fellow with CalMatters covering higher education while completing her undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara. “It’s fun to get back to a space where (I) can help make that happen.”
While Iyer spent most of her life in Ventura County, Condoleo’s first California experience was during his internship. He was born and raised in Long Island, New York.
Condoleo had an idea that he wanted to work in the breaking news space when he experienced the pro-Palestine encampments on Columbia’s campus. He produced and edited stories for Uptown Radio, a project of the university.
“That gave me a taste of what it’s like to report on something that’s breaking and timely,” Condoleo said. “I like providing context to readers and letting them know exactly what happened.”
Iyer looks forward to her first byline in The Bee and said her goal in her position is to bring student voices to the table consistently, make herself available in the community and give students and parents an accessible way to voice their perspectives.
“Education is a microcosm of the real world in a lot of ways for younger people,” Iyer said. “And younger people tend to be a demographic that isn’t quite as represented.”
When he’s not being a reporter, Condoleo said he is a “big sports guy” and a thrift-store shopper. He enjoys Modesto’s sense of community and the resident’s friendly nature.
Iyer said she loves seeing new movies and musicals as well as crafting, writing letters and thrifting in her spare time.
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