![Julia Prodis Sulek photographed in San Jose, California, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group)](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/sjm-l-projectj-0817-1101.jpg?w=85)
Julia Prodis Sulek
Julia Prodis Sulek is a Bay Area News Group reporter specializing in breaking news and narrative storytelling at her hometown paper, the Mercury News, and the East Bay Times. She has covered everything from plane crashes to presidential campaigns, murder trials to NBA Finals and nearly every major wildfire in Northern California for the past decade. She was part of the team that won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for coverage of Oakland’s Ghost Ship fire and has been a Pulitzer finalist in feature writing. She wrote an award-winning six-part narrative series “Hanging: the mysterious case of the boy in the barn,” and narrated a companion podcast. Before joining the Mercury News, she worked for The Associated Press in Cheyenne, Detroit and Dallas. She is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with BS degree in journalism.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Language: French (Some)
Affiliation: Board member, Journalism Advisory Board, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Affiliation Parent Organization: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Journalism Department
Awards: Pulitzer Prize (2017 - Staff award for breaking news coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire in Oakland), Pulitzer Prize finalist (1997 - For a trio of vivid stories about three teenagers on a deadly journey, a photograph from the Oklahoma City bombing, and a vacuum cleaner that catches prairie dogs.), Sigma Delta Chi Award for feature writiing (2017 - For Hanging: The Mysterious Case of the Boy in the Barn), Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Awards (2007 - For a story that followed a blanket from the donor, who gave it to the Sacred Heart Community Service charity, to the recipient, who took it home to warm her children.)
Expertise: Breaking news, narrative writing, California's wildfires and drought and other natural disasters, state and national politics, crime and other trending topics
All Stories
![In reacting to Biden's withdrawal Sunday, Newsom left a curious gap of time before endorsing Harris, enough room for speculation there might be other ambitions afoot. In reacting to Biden's withdrawal Sunday, Newsom left a curious gap of time before endorsing Harris, enough room for speculation there might be other ambitions afoot.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SJM-L-NEWSOMXI-1026-01.jpg?w=132)
What happened to Newsom’s quiet quest for the presidency?
![All eyes are on the Oakland native who worked her way through California politics to become next in line for the nation’s top job. All eyes are on the Oakland native who worked her way through California politics to become next in line for the nation’s top job.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Election_Biden_Trump_Abortion_58687.jpg?w=132)
‘No one tougher,’ VP Harris’ Bay Area supporters say as she looks to presidential campaign
![Family court files reviewed by the Bay Area News Group chronicle the dramatic demise of a 4-year marriage between a Stanford doctor and an MBA student. Family court files reviewed by the Bay Area News Group chronicle the dramatic demise of a 4-year marriage between a Stanford doctor and an MBA student.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-ELLIE-0717-4_a7277b.jpg?w=140)
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Mother of 3-year-old found dead at SJ recycling center ‘feared constantly’ for girl’s safety
![Police continue probing death of 3-year-old whose body was found at recycling plant after father's apparent suicide. Police continue probing death of 3-year-old whose body was found at recycling plant after father's apparent suicide.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBT-L-FREMISS-0714-02_a4b266.jpg?w=121)
Police still seeking answers in apparent murder of 3-year-old Bay Area girl found at San Jose recycling plant
![In a Redwood City courtroom Monday, lawyers for the Los Angeles Innocence Project that recently took up the case said there was a "mountain" of evidence that "appears to be missing either because it was never investigated or it was suppressed or has gone missing." In a Redwood City courtroom Monday, lawyers for the Los Angeles Innocence Project that recently took up the case said there was a "mountain" of evidence that "appears to be missing either because it was never investigated or it was suppressed or has gone missing."](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/scott-peterson-2003.png?w=137)
As Scott Peterson’s defense lawyers seek more evidence, Laci’s mother asks “When will it end?”
!["If they're not regulated, there's not accountability," said Steve Baron, a member of the county's Child Abuse Prevention Council. "If they're not regulated, there's not accountability," said Steve Baron, a member of the county's Child Abuse Prevention Council.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SJM-L-CPSFALLOUT-0317-1.jpg?w=119)
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State threatened criminal charges over Santa Clara County unlicensed foster care crisis
![Clue: it's known more for ranch-style homes and high rents.
Clue: it's known more for ranch-style homes and high rents.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SJM-L-TRUMPCHICKEN-0606-11.jpg?w=124)
Trump comes to SF for fundraiser, but this Bay Area city has already donated more
![With gusts topping 25 mph, the woman who calls herself the "head chicken tender" said she had "a hard time getting the chicken up on his feet." With gusts topping 25 mph, the woman who calls herself the "head chicken tender" said she had "a hard time getting the chicken up on his feet."](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SJM-L-TRUMPCHICKEN-0606-3.jpg?w=132)
Anti-Trump chicken makes scenic Bay trip as ex-president’s supporters rally in San Francisco
![It was his last chance to try and prove someone else killed his wife and his unborn child. It was his last chance to try and prove someone else killed his wife and his unborn child.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SJM-L-PETERSON-0313-8.jpg?w=138)
Scott Peterson strikes out as judge denies nearly all requests for new DNA testing
![In meticulous detail, prosecutors laid out nearly every shred of evidence they presented at trial, including photographs and transcript excerpts. In meticulous detail, prosecutors laid out nearly every shred of evidence they presented at trial, including photographs and transcript excerpts.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SJM-L-PETERSON-0313-4.jpg?w=140)