Tracie Cone and Anna Marie dos Remedios, publisher and general
manager respectively of The Pinnacle newspapers, have been named
recipients of one of California’s most prestigious journalism
honors.
Pinnacle owners named California Newspaper Executives of the Year
Tracie Cone and Anna Marie dos Remedios, publisher and general manager respectively of The Pinnacle newspapers, have been named recipients of one of California’s most prestigious journalism honors.
The California Press Association named the two “Newspaper Executives of the Year.” It’s only the second time in the history of the Justus F. Craemer Award that two people have shared it. Past recipients include former San Jose Mercury News publisher Anthony Ridder, now CEO of Knight-Ridder, David Threshie of the Orange County Register and Gregory Favre of the Sacramento Bee.
The award has been given annually since 1967 to newspaper executives “who have involved themselves in the directions of the editorial and news side of their newspapers by showing exceptional editorial achievement,” said Bill Lynch of the Sonoma Index-Tribune, in informing the journalists of the award.
Additionally, he said, the newspaper must have made an impact on its community or influenced local, state or national concerns.
Cone and Remedios bought The Pinnacle from the Klauer Family in November 1999 and left their journalism jobs at the San Jose Mercury News for the opportunity to report on issues in San Benito County.
“We’re doing what we love in a place we love,” Remedios said. “To be recognized for doing good work by our peers makes all of the tribulations worthwhile.”
Cone and Remedios were nominated for steering The Pinnacle on its course of award-winning journalism. For the past two years running, The Pinnacle has won more awards for journalism from the California Newspaper Publishers’ Association than any weekly of any size in California. The California Press Association’s Board of Directors additionally recognized that the editors pursued journalism excellence while facing emotional hardship during the highly publicized Internet hate attack, that they gave the settlement money to local charities and expanded with a new edition into southern Santa Clara County. Their efforts to sponsor worthwhile community events and organizations, and the newspaper’s student-mentoring program that included a four-day photo workshop for students at San Jose State University with professional guidance from photographers from around California, also were cited.
“For one time in my life I’m speechless,” Cone said. “We have a passion for journalism and a passion for the communities we serve. We’re blessed to have a talented staff that makes us look good.”
The ceremony is Dec. 6, 2002 at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. The California Press Association was established in 1878.
