The Coronado News. A new voice for quality journalism in Southern California

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With its Mediterranean-like climate and resort lifestyle, Coronado, California, is a paradise for its residents and visitors. The affluent and wealthy have chosen the peninsula for their second or vacation homes for decades. Despite its near-perfection, Coronado is also a community with news and issues that affect its residents directly.

Paul Huntsman and his family have been visiting and residing in Coronado for decades. Huntsman made his mark in media by buying and revitalizing The Salt Lake City Tribune and transforming it into the first nonprofit, major metro newspaper.

His attachment to the community is why he launched The Coronado News in early 2023. He wanted to provide its residents with quality journalism — sharing the stories of its people and lifestyle and in-depth investigative pieces.

When he noticed the sewage crisis Coronado and its environs were experiencing during a visit, he realized it was the kind of investigative reporting that residents — many of his neighbors — would read.

As Huntsman stated in his op-ed piece announcing the launching of The Coronado News, “I have great respect for anyone willing to invest in local journalism, but my experience has taught me that quality, not quantity, and restless, veteran reporters, combined with skilled and sage younger talent, can succeed.”

The Coronado News staff (L-R) Sofie Fransen, Nick Hancock, Cade Cavin, Dennis Wagner, Anthony Le Calvez and Craig Harris. Madeline Yang and Julieta Soto in front.

Huntsman invited Craig Harris to be the publisher and editor. He is a former investigative reporter with The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY. Harris was the lead writer at The Arizona Republic when its team was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize — the second time in his 32-year career. Harris had recently accepted a buyout from Gannett and had moved to San Diego, where his family had also vacationed for many years.

The Coronado News, published weekly, is delivered free to all the approximately 9,500 homes and businesses in the city and operates a free online platform. Harris heads eight staff, including two full-time reporters — recent college graduates — and several interns from California universities.

“Coronado has two news outlets, The Coronado Eagle, which has been publishing for over 100 years, and The Coronado Times, an online-only online news source for over 20 years. They do a fantastic job, but the more eyes on city hall and the school board, the better. We contribute investigative and real-time reporting and breaking news. We also have the advantage of being a broadsheet with color, and we’ll run color ads for our advertisers in any section of the paper,” Harris said.

Dennis Wagner, Harris’ long-time friend and former colleague at the Republic and USA TODAY, had already retired to San Diego. Joining the staff as an editorial consultant and mentor to the young reporters is another huge advantage of his presence.

Madeline Yang, reporter at The Coronado News

Wagner was also aware of the Tijuana River sewage crisis and provided Harris with pages of research, interview notes and other content that he compiled independently. Wagner then worked with Madeline Yang and Julieta Soto, the two full-time reporters, to guide them during their first investigative reporting.

Yang, a December 2022 Point Loma Nazarene University graduate, also covers Coronado City Hall and the U.S. Navy, which has a significant presence in the area.

“By working at a startup as the first stop in my career, I’m involved in many roles and receiving the hard news experience I need for the future. I encouraged any students to pursue their dream of becoming a journalist because there are still new and fulfilling opportunities like my job at The Coronado News,” Yang said.

Bob Sillick has held many senior positions and served a myriad of clients during his 47 years in marketing and advertising. He has been a freelance/contract content researcher, writer, editor and manager since 2010. He can be reached at bobsillick@gmail.com.

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