Chris Fusco named executive editor of The Sacramento Bee, California newsrooms

Chris Fusco, an award-winning editor with more than 30 years of news and leadership experience, will take the helm of The Sacramento Bee as its new executive editor, and as regional editor overseeing McClatchy Media’s California newsrooms.

Fusco, 52, has been a news leader in California, and is currently the executive editor of the Press Democrat News Group in Santa Rosa. In his new role, he will oversee Sacramento and McClatchy’s other publications in the state — The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, the Merced Sun-Star and The Tribune of San Luis Obispo.

Greg Farmer, McClatchy’s executive vice president of local news, introduced Fusco to the California newsroom staff on Monday, stating he is “deeply experienced” and “deeply passionate.”

“He loves local news, sees the opportunity to build on our strong foundation and embraces the extraordinary opportunity to make a difference at The Bee and our other California newsrooms,” Farmer said in a note to the staff.

Fusco has led the Santa Rosa news operation since January 2024. Before that, he was managing editor at the Houston Chronicle and founding executive editor of the Santa Cruz digital news startup Lookout Local.

Under Fusco, The Press Democrat both grew digital subscribers and won journalism accolades as a Goldsmith Prize finalist and winner of two National Headliner Awards. Fusco also reorganized the newsroom to improve community coverage in Sonoma County and continue The Press Democrat’s expansion into Napa County.

“This is an exciting time to join McClatchy’s California team, especially given the company’s commitment to top-notch statehouse, public service and watchdog journalism, not to mention our state’s leading position on the world’s economic and political stages,” Fusco said. “I look forward to working with so many talented journalists throughout California to grow our number of subscribers as the industry continues to change rapidly.”

Fusco also spent 20 years at the Chicago Sun-Times, starting as a suburban reporter, becoming one of its top investigative reporters and finishing there as managing editor, editor-in-chief and executive editor. He and two colleagues won a George Polk Award in 2014 for their coverage of Chicago police corruption, including a homicide case involving a nephew of the city’s then-mayor. In the wake of those stories, the nephew pleaded guilty to the crime nearly 10 years after committing it.

The Sacramento Bee is the leading news voice in the region, covering the state capitol and, combined with the other California properties, the issues and people of Northern California. It is one of 30 newsrooms serving local communities across the country as part of McClatchy Media.

Fusco starts Sept. 22.

This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM.