Beyond the Headlines: Sustaining Community Programming

As Orange County’s only nonprofit multimedia company, OC World has the honor and responsibility to go beyond the headlines and short bursts of digital news, and instead focus on in-depth storytelling that helps people make sense of the world around them. Our award-winning programs reach more than 15+ million households weekly on KLCS-PBS.

To our sponsors, underwriters, supporters, contributors, guest hosts, friends, and families: your belief in public-service media made this work possible. You didn’t just support programs—you supported ideas, conversations, and community.

Since launching five years ago, OC World has grown into a trusted local platform guided by an engaged advisory committee and a growing network of collaborators. Our nonprofit status reflects our purpose clearly: public service. Founders Dr. Manuel Gomez and Scott Hays—both Orange County natives—continue to volunteer their time and leadership to keep that mission front and center.

Over the past year, we expanded that mission by launching the OC World Media Club, building a community of reporters, writers, producers, podcasters, and students with a commitment to supporting storytelling and journalism from all media platforms. (Read our last editorial: “Old Media, New Voices – The Power of Community and Collaboration.”)

OC World has also started collaborating with other media platforms, including co-productions with Little Saigon TV (aired in both English and Vietnamese), storytelling projects with The My Hero Project, and with OC Forum where last year we organized a live panel discussion on Orange County’s  Changing Media Landscape, which included interviews with leading media voices: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff, Orange County Business Journal publisher Richard Reisman, Los Angeles Times reporter Gustavo Arellano, and media entrepreneur Steve Churm.

Finally, Orange County Community Foundation’s 2025 Annual Meeting brought together roughly 650 community leaders, partners, and philanthropists to celebrate its accomplishments and share its goals for the future. OC World was honored at that event to be recognized as a new media partner for a six-part documentary series titled “The Power of Community,” which will air this year on KLCS-PBS.

COVID Impact on Farm Workers
Online screening with Berkeley Alumni Association

California’s Vanishing Beaches
Best of Festival, Los Angeles Televisions, Script, and Film Festival

Alzheimer’s Disease
Golden Mike Award winner for Best Long-Form Documentary

Giving Days in Orange County
LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment award winner

Down for Dance
LA Press Club’s NAEJ award for Best Soft Feature / Under 5 Minutes

Greg MacGillivray and the Early IMAX Camera
NAEJ award winner for Best Use of Social Media to Enhance a Story

The Power and Awe of Music
Orange County Press Club’s “Real O.C.” award winner

Relationship Violence
Orange County Press Club’s “Real O.C.” award winner

OC World remains committed to listening closely, reporting responsibly, and serving as a forum for thoughtful public dialogue. Our work continues to focus on meaningful storytelling that elevates diverse voices and contributes to a more informed Orange County.

With gratitude,
OC World

Watch live on KCLS.org, or your local KLCS-PBS television station. Click here to find which channel carries KLCS-PBS in your area. Can’t make the broadcast? No problem. Subscribe to our YouTube channel where we will be publishing our episodes shortly after each broadcast.