It has about 70 employees and is delivered throughout central California, reaching places such as Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Ceres, Patterson and Sonora.

Before its purchase by Charles K. McClatchy and McClatchy Newspapers in 1924, it merged in the same year with the Modesto News-Herald, adopting that name as part of a consolidation.

In 1933 it changed its name to the Modesto Bee and News-Herald, and in 1975 abbreviated the name on its masthead to The Modesto Bee.

Its current owner is the descendant firm, McClatchy Company, an American newspaper corporation.

In May 2024, the newspaper announced it will reduce its print days to three a week: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.