Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation honors three from The Desert Sun
Two Desert Sun journalists and one Desert Sun alum were among the honorees Feb. 28 at the inaugural Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame, presented by the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, at Thunderbird Country Club.
Bruce Fessier, former Desert Sun entertainment editor, columnist and reporter, was inducted as part of the first class of the new hall of fame, taking his place along with Karen Devine, anchor at KESQ; Frank Jones, owner and publisher of Palm Springs Life; and, posthumously, his father, Milton Jones, former owner and publisher of Palm Springs Life.
Arizona Republic Executive Editor Greg Burton, who was executive editor of The Desert Sun from 2011 to 2018, praised Fessier’s legacy in a moving tribute (see sidebar).
The foundation also named Andy Abeyta, visual journalist at The Desert Sun, winner of the rising star award. Palm Springs Post reporter Kendall Balchan was runner-up.
Rich Tarpening, assignment manager for Gulf California Broadcasting, won the journalist of the year award, and Chris Damien of The Desert Sun was runner-up.
The celebration was hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist Hank Plante, who worked as an anchor and reporter for more than 40 years, with opening remarks by Randy Lovely, board president of the CVJF who worked in journalism for more than 30 years, including as the editor of The Desert Sun in the early 2000s.
“Today is a celebration of journalism,” Lovely said in his remarks. “This community is really fortunate to have so many talented media professionals, especially at a time when the news business is under attack, and under financial stress. We have a number of media professionals here today who are currently working in service to the community. We have a number of retired media professionals, and others who have left the industry to go into other professions. And we even have some future journalists here. We have some students who want to join this noble profession.”
The event also featured former Washington Post editor Martin Baron, who spoke about his new book, “Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos and The Washington Post,” and answered questions from Indio High School student journalists. Baron also shared his experiences in leading the Post during the Trump presidency as well as his thoughts about the future of journalism.
CVJF’s mission is to promote and support sustainable community journalism in the Coachella Valley. The sold-out luncheon hosted 200 guests, including local politicians, local leaders, former journalists, family members and friends who were there to celebrate inductees.
CVJF provides support to local newsrooms by 1) raising funds for staff position in local newsrooms, 2) providing funds for internship programs in local newsrooms and 3) providing one-time grants to help local reporting efforts that would not be possible without financial assistance.
The CVJF board of directors includes Randy Lovely, president; Ricardo Loretta, vice president and co-founder; Joe Wallace, secretary-treasurer and co-founder; Cary Brazeman, board member; Ken Chavez, board member; and Julie Makinen, board member.
On Oct. 13, Fessier and Tod Goldberg will participate in a panel discussion led by Randy Florence and Patrick Evans titled “Gangsters in Paradise Revisited.”
Evans and Florence are cohosts of the local podcast “Big Conversations, Little Bar,” and the conversation will raise funds for the CVJF and Variety of the Desert. The event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the start of Fessier’s “Gangsters in Paradise” series that chronicled the history of the mafia in the Coachella Valley.
CVJF is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax deductible. To learn more or donate, go to cvjf.org or send a check payable to the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation to CVJF, P.O. Box 207, Palm Springs, Calif. 92263.
This article includes previous reporting by Desert Sun staffers Winston Gieseke and Brian Blueskye.
Editor’s note: Desert Sun staffer Nicky Loomis’ position as opinion editor is entirely funded by the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation.