OC World is honored to announce that its original program, "Keeping Tradition Alive” has been nominated for an L.A. Area Emmy Award. The program explores the rich history and enduring significance of a tradition rooted in ancient Indigenous cultures that continues to bring families and communities together in remembrance, celebration, and reflection. This Emmy nomination recognizes the power of locally produced storytelling and reflects OC World’s ongoing commitment to sharing the people, traditions, and cultural experiences that enrich Orange County. Thank you to our viewers, supporters, and community partners for your continued support of independent multimedia programming. 🏆 Winners will be announced July 25 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Our 2026 Nomination: ▶️ Watch the full program: Keeping Tradition Alive: Santa Ana’s Día de los Muertos

OC World is honored to receive four nominations in the 68th Southern California Journalism Awards presented by the Los Angeles Press Club. Selected from more than 2,700 entries, the nominations recognize OC World’s continued commitment to public affairs, culture, education, and community storytelling across Southern California. Winners will be announced June 28 in Los Angeles as OC World continues to expand its impact through independent nonprofit journalism. Our 2026 Nominations: 🎙️ Anchor / Host: Scott Hays 📚 Educational Reporting: “El Sol Academy: A Dual-Language Charter School”
 🤝 Race and Society Reporting: “Keeping Tradition Alive”
 🏈🎨 Sports: “Todd Marinovich on Football, Addiction, and Art as Therapy”

Manuel Gomez, co-founder and producer of of OC World, has been nominated for the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award from the Orange County Business Journal. This is a well-deserved recognition for his passion, dedication, and innovative spirit in the world of media entrepreneurship alongside other entrepreneurs. The Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards are designed to recognize individuals who embody the American entrepreneurial spirit – individuals who, through creativity and determination, have established and nurtured successful business ventures.

Thank you Little Saigon TV - Tin Tức for co-producing a program with OC World about one family’s journey from Vietnam to Orange County, which has been nominated for Best Long Form Program or Documentary at this year’s 76th Golden Mike Awards.Here’s another example of how storytelling and collaboration can shape a community more deeply than media platforms that limit themselves to reporting news. Rather than treating stories as a series of isolated facts, this approach helps audiences understand not only what occurred, but why it matters and how it connects to life in Orange County. By pairing public affairs reporting with narrative depth on a trusted public television platform, OC World creates space for reflection, accountability, and informed dialogue—outcomes that daily headlines or radio briefings rarely achieve on their own.This version of “From Saigon to OC” includes Vietnamese subtitles.

OC World won three awards at the 18th Annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, including first place for Soft News Feature, TV/Streaming (Under 5 Minutes) for its program “Down for Dance”. Judges commented that it was an “excellent feature… concise and heartfelt” that perfectly delivered an “inspiring story… that empowers people through arts and culture,” making it a polished and moving piece of journalism. OC World was additionally honored with two third-place awards: Soft News Feature, TV/Streaming (Over 5 Minutes) for Giving Days in OC, and Best Use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story for Early IMAX Camera with Greg MacGillivray. Last year, OC World received a second-place honor in the category of Documentary or Special Program, Short (Under 30 Minutes) for Surviving the Trauma of Relationship Violence, and a third-place honor for Soft News Feature, Music/Arts/Culture (Over 5 Minutes) for “The Power and Awe of Music”. This year’s ceremony was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Honorees included Seth Rogen and Lauren [...]

Scott Hays has been named one of OC’s 500 most “influential leaders” in the Directory of Influence, published by the Orange County Business Journal. The Orange County Business Journal’s OC500 Directory of Influence is an annual publication celebrating the "most impactful leaders, innovators, and change-makers in the Orange County business community.” The OCBJ editorial team and publisher carefully curate the list, selecting individuals based on their newsworthy achievements, recognition at prominent OCBJ events, and lasting influence within the business landscape. Read Article