Overview:
The Gruner awards recognize outstanding journalism by newspapers and digital news operations around the San Joaquin Valley. They are named for the late George Gruner, longtime editor of the Fresno Bee, and are administered by the university.
Fresnoland’s in-depth investigation into California’s Williamson Act captured the prestigious public service award Thursday during the 38th-annual George F. Gruner Journalism Awards at California State University Fresno.
Environment reporter Gregory Weaver shared the top honor with a four-reporter team from The Fresno Bee for its coverage of last year’s national immigration crackdown.
Weaver’s reporting from February of 2025, examined a decades-old tax break meant to protect the state’s precious farmland. The two-part series raised new questions about a program that data show provides more help to out-of-state businesses and corporate mega-farms than it does for locally-owned small and medium-sized farms.
One of the judges commented: “The tax bonanza for rich agribusiness inadvertently wrought by the Williamson Ave was revelatory and maddening.”
Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano took home an award for best writing for her July 2025 profile of the art and artists behind the city’s murals below the 180 freeway.
“A judge noted that she brought both the art and the neighborhood to life,” Gruner judges in a statement.
The Gruner awards recognize outstanding journalism by newspapers and digital news operations around the San Joaquin Valley. They are named for the late George Gruner, longtime editor of the Fresno Bee, and are administered by the Fresno State.
You can check out Greg’s Williamson Act investigation here.
Read Julianna’s deep dive into Fresno’s freeway mural artists here.
