Orange County Press Club

19/10/2024

We're proud to introduce our new board members: Destiny Torres and Hanna Kang of Orange County Register, Hosam Elattar of Voice of OC and Carrie Freitas of Kitchen Table Marketing + PR.

The 2024-25 Orange County Press Club Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome four newly elected members. We thank them for answering the call to serve on behalf of Orange County’s press corps. Destiny Torres is a local reporter at The Orange County Register and Southern California News Group. Ho...

26/09/2024

We’re honored to play a small role in this tribute to our former colleague Richard “Scoop” Koehler.

Thank you to Todd Koehler for gifting this challenge coin.

24/09/2024

We stand with the Southern California News Group Guild in demanding Alden Global and MediaNews Group pay employees a livable wage to cover one of the nation's most expensive regions. Journalists shouldn't have to choose between affording rent, healthcare and groceries.

Journalists across 11 Southern California newsrooms have voted by a landslide in favor of a strike after more than two years of bargaining.

22/09/2024

🗳️🦸‍♀️📰 Deadline extended! We need a few excellent journalists to grow our board. Please email your candidate statement to ocpressclub[at]gmail[dot]com!

10/09/2024

We’re proud to join First Amendment Coalition, Los Angeles Press Club, ACLU of Southern California and other advocates to defend press access at law enforcement sweeps of homeless encampments.

A coalition of 23 press rights and civil liberties organizations, today call on California officials to operate with maximum transparency and respect the role of the press in observing and documenting sweeps of homeless encampments.

23/08/2024

Federal agents raided the home of Supervisor Andrew Do today after the County of Orange sued his daughter and an executive at her former nonprofit for failing to properly account for millions in Covid-19 relief funds. Last year, Do attempted to have LAist reporter Nick Gerda fired for doing good journalism on this issue. Orange County needs more local news reporters to unmask public corruption and bring accountability to those who grift taxpayers.

Federal agents on Thursday raided the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife — OC Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham — as well as a home owned by their daughter Rhiannon Do.

02/08/2024

Masterfully written editorial supporting SB 1327 by Ojai Valley News publisher Laura Rearwin Ward.

When another newspaper reporter loses her job, does it make a sound in the information ecosystem?

31/07/2024

OC Press Club members have free admittance to this OC PRSA mixer! Enjoy a night of building valuable connections in a relaxed atmosphere without pitches or deadlines. Click the link below to RSVP: https://ocprsa.org/meetinginfo.php?id=55&ts=1720739065

24/07/2024

Scholarship recipient Elise Pak of sent us this dispatch from

“I’ve learned so much from the instructors and made so many friendships that I will always remember and cherish. I have two days left here and I wish it could last longer. I want to thank you again for the scholarship you offered me because this workshop was truly a life-changing experience. I am very grateful.”

04/07/2024

“I’m concerned about this acquisition because of what we saw at Picket Fence Media where, following TMG’s acquisition, staff at Picket Fence were laid off,” said Brandon Pho, president of the OC Press Club’s board of directors. “Before Picket Fence was acquired, all three of the local papers were more distinct and had their own reporters and a managing editor. After the purchase, there were fewer staffers and a lot of their positions seemed to be replaced by freelancers.”

Times Media Group announced the acquisition on Tuesday. The sale was formalized on July 1 and staffers on the publications were notified.

02/07/2024

Our statement on the reported sale of Laguna Beach Independent, Newport Beach Independent Newspaper "Indy" and their sister magazines to Times Media Group.

CC: Stu News Laguna Daily Pilot Orange County Register Orange County Business Journal

25/06/2024

Congratulations to Elise Pak of Sunny Hills High School on earning the 2024 Larry Welborn Scholarship. The award helps fund Elise’s tuition to the annual in July.

Welborn is Chairman emeritus for the workshop and legal affairs reporter who retired after over 40 years of service.

24/06/2024

Congratulations to Kiana Kalahele, recipient of the 2024 Vi Smith Scholarship. Kalahele graduated from Chapman University in May with bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration Marketing and English. She served as managing editor of The Panther Newspaper and a Hawaii News Now digital media intern. Kalahele also reported on West Orange County cities during the pandemic for Voice of OC collegiate news service. Well done, Kiana!

21/06/2024

Please join us in celebrating our Jean Hastings Ardell Memorial Scholarship winner Makyla McLeod. Makyla is a third year Literary Journalism and International Studies double major at University of California, Irvine. She is on staff at UCI’s The New University.

“The reason I pursue journalism and the reason journalism matters to me is the amplification of the untold,” Makyla said in her application.

Congrats, Makyla!

20/06/2024

Please join us in congratulating our OC Press Club Scholarship winner Jacob Rhodes! Jacob is the Editor-in-Chief for The Hornet at Fullerton College.

“I want to pursue journalism for two major reasons: to be a beacon for the truth, and to make my community proud,” Jacob wrote in his application.

Congrats, Jacob!

18/06/2024

Susan Christian Goulding was honored with the 2024 Sky Dunlap Award at the Excellence in Journalism Awards Gala on June 13.

After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism, Goulding worked at newspapers throughout Southern California, including the Herald Examiner, Daily Breeze, Los Angeles Times and most recently Southern California News Group. Goulding was a longtime correspondent for People before switching gears to earn a master’s in education University of California, Irvine. Goulding taught English and journalism in Compton for four years, and at Loyola Marymount University and El Camino College for a year. She regularly volunteers to judge scholastic journalism contests in Southern California, including SoCalJEA student media competition and the annual OC Write-Off at Fullerton College.

Congratulations, Susan!

18/06/2024

“[Los Angeles City Atty. Hydee] Feldstein Soto has provided a powerful lesson for government agencies: You can’t sue journalists after you willingly give them government records,” said Susan Seager, head of UC Irvine School of Law’s Press Freedom Project. Via Los Angeles Times

In a tentative settlement, the city of Los Angeles agreed to pay attorney's fees for a Knock L.A. journalist and the group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition.

15/06/2024

ICYMI here’s a rundown on the Excellence in Journalism Awards, including judges’ comments about our recipients!

Los Angeles Times Southern California News Group Daily Pilot Orange County Register Voice of OC Culture OC Halloween Everyday Cornerstone Communications Behind the Badge Firebrand Media LLC Newport Beach Independent Newspaper "Indy" Event News Enterprise California State University, Long Beach Newport-Mesa Unified School District - NMUSD Laguna Beach Independent The Epoch Times Dana Point Times

Best Arts/Culture Story First Place: Paul Hodgins “How Has the Pandemic Hangover Affected O.C.’s Arts Scene?” Culture OC Second Place: Eric Marchese “Stage Door Closes Its Doors, For Now,” Voice of OC Third Place: Paul Hodgins “Behaving Badly and Other Lamentable Public Trends: Is It Hap...

15/06/2024

🏆✍️📸 The 2023-24 Board of Directors congratulates our members who received honors for their hard work at the Excellence in Journalism Awards on June 13. You inspire us!

13/06/2024

🏆✍️📷 We look forward to seeing our members, family and friends for the 2024 Excellence in Journalism Awards tonight at 6 p.m. Suggested attire is cocktail or business formal. Yes, parking is still free!

📸: Southern California News Group journalists at the 2023 awards gala reception.

06/06/2024

📝🏆📸 We’re one week out from the 2024 Excellence in Journalism Awards on Thursday, June 13. We can’t wait to celebrate our members’ exemplary work.

Yes, a few seats are still available for purchase ⬇️ https://orangecountypressclub.com/2024/05/buy-your-ticket-to-the-2024-excellence-in-journalism-awards-gala/

03/06/2024

The OC Press Club treated to free pizza during finals week. We respect these student journalists’ comprehensive breaking news coverage of the recent action at the Pro-Palestine encampment. We’re excited to see more from them in coming years!

22/05/2024

Congratulations to our contest award winners! We’re excited to see you all. Tickets here: https://orangecountypressclub.com/2024/05/buy-your-ticket-to-the-2024-excellence-in-journalism-awards-gala/