Sportswriter Janie McCauley and photographer Godofredo Vásquez gained exclusive access to a tennis program in California’s San Quentin State Prison, producing a distinctive enterprise piece on sports behind bars.
The story grew from a tweet, after Bay Area sports writer Janie McCauley posted a message in May saying that she had been invited to play tennis with inmates at San Quentin. Global Sports Editor Ricardo Zuniga saw the tweet and reached out to her: Let's see what we can do this access.
San Quentin State Prison inmates wait for their turn to play tennis against visiting players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
College tennis player Stefan Schneider, left, — nicknamed Twinkle Toes by prison inmates — shares advice on his serve technique with San Quentin inmate Kenny Rogers in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
Inmate James Duff, left, talks with fellow San Quentin inmates Earl Wilson, seated left, and Kenny Rogers, seated right, while warming up to play tennis with visiting players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmate Earl Wilson, hits a return during a tennis match against visiting players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmate Earl Wilson smiles as he watches a tennis match between fellow inmates and a group of visiting players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
From left, college tennis player Stefan Schneider, English professor Patrick Leong and San Quentin inmates Braydon Tennison and James Duff laugh as they watch a tennis match at the prison in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022. Leong helps run the “Inside-Outside” program, coordinating volunteer players like Schneider to play doubles with inmates.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmate James Duff hits a return while playing tennis alongside AP sports writer Janie McCauley, foreground, in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmate Braydon Tennison reacts after giving up a point during a tennis match against visiting players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmates and a group of visiting players break a huddle after playing tennis together in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
San Quentin inmate James Duff watches his teammates play against visiting tennis players in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez
McCauley, a former college tennis player, requested authorization from the prison authorities to write about the program, which pairs inmates with a player from the outside community. After a postponement for a COVID outbreak at the prison, she and San Francisco photographer Vásquez were allowed into California’s oldest prison on Aug. 13 — McCauley as a player and reporter, and Vásquez to capture images of the program and the inmates’ stories.
The pair also made a second reporting trip, the result a heartfelt account of a sports program seeking to build a stronger sense of community among inmates, as well as the connections they forge with players from the outside the prison thanks to their shared love of the sport.
McCauley worked closely with editor Erica Hunzinger to craft a narrative that highlighted the deeply personal elements of the story, bringing the reader into the rarely seen space behind the walls of one of the most notorious penal institutions in America. Vásquez's images also captured the essence of the program, including those revealing moments when a player showed exhilaration or frustration over a point won or lost, all amid the unique setting.
Hunziger further elevated the storytelling with her edit, and executed a strong social media plan promoting the piece. She also worked with digital storyteller Samantha Shotzbarger on a custom presentation with stacked photos, showcasing Vázquez's expressive images.
The engaging story was used by news outlets large and small across the country, drawing strong readership.
San Quentin State Prison inmate Braydon Tennison, left, celebrates with AP sports writer Janie McCauley after they scored a point during a doubles tennis match in San Quentin, Calif., Aug. 13, 2022.
AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez