Orange County Register Communications Career Opportunities
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Reporter, Editorial Writer, Commentary and Opinion
CA - Santa Ana
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Opportunity Snapshot

Seasoned Reporters take notice because this type of opportunity rarely comes along. The Orange County Register is looking for a libertarian thinker who can consistently write distinctive, persuasive editorials for our daily newspaper and online opinion website in tune with our philosophy of (a) respect for the individual, (b) limited government, (c) free markets, and (d) free trade.

It has been eight years since we've had a vacancy on the team, and for good reason -- it's not everywhere that you can display your libertarian views and enjoy a variety of rewards in the process, including:
  • Pride -- with its innovative design, use of graphics and color, and three Pulitzer Prizes, The Orange County Register has gained a reputation as one of the finest newspapers in the world.
  • High impact -- Commentary & Opinion is an important section in our paper, and your words will strive to advance human liberty and host community debate for some 290,000 households through our newspaper circulation alone. You will also become a member of our editorial board and will help our team shape the daily and Sunday content of the pages, online product and the editorial positions.
  • Opportunity to shine -- this is your chance to go toe to toe with state officials, introduce ground-breaking concepts, and give it your all before a very proactive and progressive audience. We always make extra space for good, creative ideas!
  • Cutting-edge environment -- you'll also help us forge ahead with interactive news delivery and other innovative initiatives designed to ensure our leadership position and meet the needs of tomorrow's audience.
  • Great atmosphere -- you'll join a close-knit team that benefits from the inspiration of an appreciative community and the stability and support of a well established media organization.
  • Career development -- we love to promote from within, and your success in this role will help position you for growth within this department, starting with Senior Editorial Writer and working your way up to Deputy Editor, as well as opportunities across the Freedom organization. We also offer management training to expand your competencies and strengths.

About Us

Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, The Orange County Register began on November 25, 1905, when a group of businessmen launched the Santa Ana Register to serve Orange County's 20,000 residents. Raymond Cyrus Hoiles bought the then-Santa Ana Register in 1935 and later founded the information company Freedom Communications, Inc. R.C.'s descendents still control the company, and his "small l" libertarian philosophy that he developed still animates the editorial pages. Through the years, the Register has continued to reinvent itself and grow with the region.

During the 1970's and early 80's, the Register committed to reinvesting a large percentage of its profits to upgrade all aspects of the paper's operations. In 1981, it began publishing in full color. In 1985, the newspaper became The Orange County Register. That same year, the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for its photographic coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. It won a second Pulitzer Prize, for specialized reporting in 1989, and a third in 1996 for investigative reporting. Today, the Register continues to enrich people's lives as a leading provider of information.

The Orange County Register is the flagship newspaper of Freedom Communications, Inc., a privately owned, diversified media company headquartered in Irvine, California, which publishes 28 daily and 37 weekly newspapers, as well as several magazines and smaller publications, and operates 8 broadcast television stations across the nation. Freedom Communications is in the midst of an exciting period of growth and transformation. We continue to innovate by looking for new business opportunities through a mix of acquisitions and internal growth, developing our Interactive business, and pushing the envelope in online, on-air and print media delivery. For more information, please visit www.freedom.com.

Your Role

As Editorial Writer for Commentary & Opinion, you'll generally focus on statewide California public policy issues, especially those with an impact on Orange County and/or individual liberty, and specialize in 3-4 topics as you write editorials, blogs, columns and book reviews.

Reporting to the Editorial Director, you'll assist our Deputy Editor, Column Editor, Letter Editor, Political Cartoonist, and the other Editorial Writers in developing the Register's daily and Sunday content, online product, and editorial positions, as you:
  • Prepare for daily editorial meetings by reading newspapers, online sites, periodicals, studies, and books and contribute workable editorial ideas.
  • Identify and interview sources.
  • Write daily editorials and blogs on state issues that make a good case using our values, are intellectually honest, accurately, reported, well written and correctly characterize the outrage of the issue while offering solutions.
  • Meet deadlines for Web, daily and Sunday products.
  • Contribute to discussions on persuasive presentation formats, appropriate artwork, etc.
  • Follow the overall department mission and values: To advance human liberty and host community debate through the production of print and Web products that are libertarian, local, timely, lively, relevant, well written, and well designed.
  • Collaborate with other Commentary members to advance their success as well as the department's goals, and build working relationships with colleagues in other parts of the organization.
  • Follow the company's business code of ethics and showing a professional demeanor as you proudly represent The Orange County Register.
  • Contribute to our Web and other news platforms.

Keys to Success

Your editorials will need to be more than well-written and accurate; they will need to incorporate:
  • Intellectual honesty that acknowledges the truth of the situation;
  • Analytical thinking and an appreciation for nuance; and
  • A true passion for our values and how they apply to public policy.
As you know, "getting the story" will require strong investigative interviewing skills, but your success in this role will also be a function of your ability to write to deadline, remain flexible as we respond to breaking news, and support the success of the department through teamwork and collaboration.

If this sounds like the right mix of challenge and opportunity, and you meet the following qualifications, we look forward to hearing from you.

Our Requirements

  • 7+ years of related experience with a major daily newspaper and/or Web site
  • Libertarian views that correlate to the Freedom philosophy
  • Strong interviewing and writing skills
  • Proven ability to report, analyze, apply values and write about a variety of issues
  • Track record of writing to deadline and working with others on deadline
  • Strong news judgment
  • Proficient technological skills on a newsediting system and familiarity with Web posting and blogging
  • Solid understanding of bureaucracy and government processes, as well as public policy, law, history and current events
  • Enthusiastic interest in Web and other non-traditional news platforms
  • Bachelor's degree
Preferred, but not required:
  • Experience with computer-based budget analysis
  • Further formal or informal education, especially displaying expertise in a particular public policy area of interest (i.e. criminal justice, constitutional law, political process)
  • Ability to speak and represent the company and our philosophy behind the podium and in front of the TV camera

Opportunity Snapshot

Seasoned Reporters take notice because this type of opportunity rarely comes along. The Orange County Register is looking for a libertarian thinker who can consistently write distinctive, persuasive editorials for our daily newspaper and online opinion website in tune with our philosophy of (a) respect for the individual, (b) limited government, (c) free markets, and (d) free trade.

It has been eight years since we've had a vacancy on the team, and for good reason -- it's not everywhere that you can display your libertarian views and enjoy a variety of rewards in the process, including:
  • Pride -- with its innovative design, use of graphics and color, and three Pulitzer Prizes, The Orange County Register has gained a reputation as one of the finest newspapers in the world.
  • High impact -- Commentary & Opinion is an important section in our paper, and your words will strive to advance human liberty and host community debate for some 290,000 households through our newspaper circulation alone. You will also become a member of our editorial board and will help our team shape the daily and Sunday content of the pages, online product and the editorial positions.
  • Opportunity to shine -- this is your chance to go toe to toe with state officials, introduce ground-breaking concepts, and give it your all before a very proactive and progressive audience. We always make extra space for good, creative ideas!
  • Cutting-edge environment -- you'll also help us forge ahead with interactive news delivery and other innovative initiatives designed to ensure our leadership position and meet the needs of tomorrow's audience.
  • Great atmosphere -- you'll join a close-knit team that benefits from the inspiration of an appreciative community and the stability and support of a well established media organization.
  • Career development -- we love to promote from within, and your success in this role will help position you for growth within this department, starting with Senior Editorial Writer and working your way up to Deputy Editor, as well as opportunities across the Freedom organization. We also offer management training to expand your competencies and strengths.

About Us

Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, The Orange County Register began on November 25, 1905, when a group of businessmen launched the Santa Ana Register to serve Orange County's 20,000 residents. Raymond Cyrus Hoiles bought the then-Santa Ana Register in 1935 and later founded the information company Freedom Communications, Inc. R.C.'s descendents still control the company, and his "small l" libertarian philosophy that he developed still animates the editorial pages. Through the years, the Register has continued to reinvent itself and grow with the region.

During the 1970's and early 80's, the Register committed to reinvesting a large percentage of its profits to upgrade all aspects of the paper's operations. In 1981, it began publishing in full color. In 1985, the newspaper became The Orange County Register. That same year, the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for its photographic coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. It won a second Pulitzer Prize, for specialized reporting in 1989, and a third in 1996 for investigative reporting. Today, the Register continues to enrich people's lives as a leading provider of information.

The Orange County Register is the flagship newspaper of Freedom Communications, Inc., a privately owned, diversified media company headquartered in Irvine, California, which publishes 28 daily and 37 weekly newspapers, as well as several magazines and smaller publications, and operates 8 broadcast television stations across the nation. Freedom Communications is in the midst of an exciting period of growth and transformation. We continue to innovate by looking for new business opportunities through a mix of acquisitions and internal growth, developing our Interactive business, and pushing the envelope in online, on-air and print media delivery. For more information, please visit www.freedom.com.

Your Role

As Editorial Writer for Commentary & Opinion, you'll generally focus on statewide California public policy issues, especially those with an impact on Orange County and/or individual liberty, and specialize in 3-4 topics as you write editorials, blogs, columns and book reviews.

Reporting to the Editorial Director, you'll assist our Deputy Editor, Column Editor, Letter Editor, Political Cartoonist, and the other Editorial Writers in developing the Register's daily and Sunday content, online product, and editorial positions, as you:
  • Prepare for daily editorial meetings by reading newspapers, online sites, periodicals, studies, and books and contribute workable editorial ideas.
  • Identify and interview sources.
  • Write daily editorials and blogs on state issues that make a good case using our values, are intellectually honest, accurately, reported, well written and correctly characterize the outrage of the issue while offering solutions.
  • Meet deadlines for Web, daily and Sunday products.
  • Contribute to discussions on persuasive presentation formats, appropriate artwork, etc.
  • Follow the overall department mission and values: To advance human liberty and host community debate through the production of print and Web products that are libertarian, local, timely, lively, relevant, well written, and well designed.
  • Collaborate with other Commentary members to advance their success as well as the department's goals, and build working relationships with colleagues in other parts of the organization.
  • Follow the company's business code of ethics and showing a professional demeanor as you proudly represent The Orange County Register.
  • Contribute to our Web and other news platforms.

Keys to Success

Your editorials will need to be more than well-written and accurate; they will need to incorporate:
  • Intellectual honesty that acknowledges the truth of the situation;
  • Analytical thinking and an appreciation for nuance; and
  • A true passion for our values and how they apply to public policy.
As you know, "getting the story" will require strong investigative interviewing skills, but your success in this role will also be a function of your ability to write to deadline, remain flexible as we respond to breaking news, and support the success of the department through teamwork and collaboration.

If this sounds like the right mix of challenge and opportunity, and you meet the following qualifications, we look forward to hearing from you.

Our Requirements

  • 7+ years of related experience with a major daily newspaper and/or Web site
  • Libertarian views that correlate to the Freedom philosophy
  • Strong interviewing and writing skills
  • Proven ability to report, analyze, apply values and write about a variety of issues
  • Track record of writing to deadline and working with others on deadline
  • Strong news judgment
  • Proficient technological skills on a newsediting system and familiarity with Web posting and blogging
  • Solid understanding of bureaucracy and government processes, as well as public policy, law, history and current events
  • Enthusiastic interest in Web and other non-traditional news platforms
  • Bachelor's degree
Preferred, but not required:
  • Experience with computer-based budget analysis
  • Further formal or informal education, especially displaying expertise in a particular public policy area of interest (i.e. criminal justice, constitutional law, political process)
  • Ability to speak and represent the company and our philosophy behind the podium and in front of the TV camera
Freedom Newspapers is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
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