Write for us

Pitch a story

We publish news, explainers, data pieces, Q&As, and clearly labeled opinion on county government, money, and life in Orange County. You don't need clips — first-time writers get assigned regularly. We reply within 72 hours with yes, no, or a revision request.

Before you pitch

Disclose anything you were paid to write, or any organization paying you that the story touches. We can still run it disclosed — we won't run it undisclosed.
No press releases rewritten as news.
No attacking a private person by name without documented evidence and a real chance for them to respond first.
No AI-generated reporting, quotes, or facts. Grammar tools are fine — the reporting has to be yours.
Nothing published elsewhere already, unless you tell us up front and we agree.
Not a class assignment turned in unchanged — rework it first.