Mitchell Stern is the CEO of Freedom Communications, Inc..
Headquartered in Irvine California, Freedom Communications is a privately owned media company which operates 33 daily and 77 weekly newspapers in the United States, with a combined daily circulation of more than 1 million. Their flaship newspaper is the Orange County Register based in Santa Ana, California, with a circulation of 237,000.
The broadcast division includes eight television stations -- five CBS affiliates, two ABC affiliates and a CW affiliate.
Freedom Communications generated $1 billion in sales in 2005.
On September 1, 2009, Freedom Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection. The bankruptcy allowed the company to reduce its debt to $325 million from more than $770 million.
The Hoiles family, which founded the company and had owned the flagship Orange County Register since 1935, gave up control of Freedom to the banks holding the outstanding debt. Existing shareholders, including members of the Hoiles family and two private equity firms, the Blackstone Group and Providence Equity Partners, retain a 2 percent equity interest in the company. They were also granted warrants that will allow them to purchase up to 10 percent of the shares in the company.
On April 30, 2010, Freedom Communications emerged from Chapter 11. A new Freedom board of directors was announced at the time.
Contact Information
| Web Site: | www.freedom.com |
| Telephone: | 949.253.2300 |
| Fax: | 949.474.7675 |
| Address: | 17666 Fitch Irvine CA 92614 USA |
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Comments about Freedom Communications, Inc.
Comments to date: 9. The most recent comments are below.| |
Jun Granflor Brea, CA USA | Posted at 6:38pm on Friday, March 4, 2011 |
I purchased a Shea Home in 2005. I've had plumbing problems for 4 years and Shea will not help me fix the problem. I exposed the problem in Sept. 2010, I hired a contractor to cut the floor to expose the sewer line. We invited Shea Home reps to look at the problem, the pipe has no slope, it is supposed to slope 1/4" per foot but this line is close to level. Shea saw the plumbing code violation, but will not fix the problem.
I would like to invite you as a newspaper publicist to help me get this in the news. If this is not a plumbing code violation, then don't publish it.
I don't know how else to get Shea to stand up to their mistake. I have had this trench open in my family room for almost 6 months. Thanks.
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Media Owners editors Boulder, Colorado USA | Posted at 1:12pm on Thursday, July 1, 2010 |
Freedom Names Mitchell Stern President and Chief Executive
June 29, 2010 -– Freedom Communications announced today that Mitchell Stern has been named president and chief executive officer. Stern is a member of the Freedom Board of Directors and previously served as CEO of DirecTV U.S.
“We are very pleased that Mitch has agreed to lead Freedom Communications as its Chief Executive Officer,” said Chairman of the Board James Dunning Jr. “With his 30 years of experience in the media industry, he brings a wealth of experience and forward-thinking to the job. His talents as both a strategic thinker and a hands-on executive are a perfect fit for Freedom, and make him the right person to lead our talented associates and diverse properties in tackling the challenges of the new media environment.”
Mr. Stern will assume his new duties July 1. He succeeds Burl Osborne, who as interim CEO led Freedom through its recently completed restructuring. Mr. Osborne will remain on the board of directors and also serve as a special advisor to the Company.
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L. Hofland Pinon Hills/San Bernardi | Posted at 12:37pm on Sunday, December 27, 2009 |
Thank you for keeping the Daily Press (Press Dispatch)Victorville, CA. OPERATING~!!!!!!
Good caring people/all news coverage/especially the local areas. We in this area need this news-
paper and be sure to keep same people employed.
p.s. not related and do not know the people personally.....thank you....
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Lou Barreto Anaheim Hills/Glendora | Posted at 2:23pm on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 |
Does your newspaper feature new books written by Southern California residents? My home base is Anaheim, but I am also a resident of Glendora and have written a new book which is currently listed with amazon.com,barnesandnoble, ingram.com.... .......
The book is titled, Who is This Alien ? (this higher power in the universe)........The book uses intelligent design concepts to support the existence of a higher power in the universe and defines who is this alien being that everyone is seeking by faith, both scientists of the twenty first century and individuals throughout the world…The book also includes my personal history and the visitations that I have had with this higher power, this supreme intelligence in the universe............The book retails at $8.50 US...released by Kingdom Come Publishers...........Attached is the front/back cover design.........need your address to send a copy of the book.
Who can I contact if there is an interest in the story............or to send a press release?......I would appreciate some feedback
Respectfully/GodBless..............................LouBarreto 626-208.1744
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Media Owners editors Boulder, Colorado USA | Posted at 4:49pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 |
Freedom Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 1, 2009. The Orange County Register reported:
"Freedom Communications Inc. in Irvine, parent of the Orange County Register, reached agreement with the company’s lenders on the restructuring of its debt and will complete the process through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filed in a Delaware court today, company officials announced.
“I consider this to be good news, not bad news,” said Burl Osborne, Freedom’s interim chief executive. “It’s not about liquidation or going out of business. It allows the company to operate more effectively.”
Under the reorganization, Freedom’s debt will be cut to $325 million from more than $770 million.
Existing shareholders, including members of the founding Hoiles family, and two private equity firms, the Blackstone Group and Providence Equity Partners, will retain a 2 percent equity interest in the company. They also will be granted warrants that will allow them to purchase up to 10 percent of the shares in the company.
However, the family, which has owned the flagship Register since 1935, and has since seen the company grow to 33 dailies, 70 weeklies and other publications, and eight television stations, will give up control to the banks. The lenders will select a new board and appoint a new CEO.
Osborne said he expects the bankruptcy process to take four to six months, although it may take a little longer to get Federal Communications Commission approval for the company’s television stations."
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Media Owners editors Boulder, Colorado USA | Posted at 11:36pm on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 |
Freedom Communications has named independent director and media veteran Burl Osborne as Interim CEO.
IRVINE, CA - June 16, 2009 - Freedom Communications, Inc. today named independent director and media veteran Burl Osborne as its Interim CEO, replacing Scott Flanders who resigned to take the CEO post at Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Mr. Osborne has served on Freedom's Board of Directors since May 2004.
He was executive editor and then publisher of the Dallas Morning News from 1980 to 2001 and has been credited with building it into one of the top papers in the country. He also held a number of positions, including president of the publishing division, with the Belo Corporation, which is the parent company of the Morning News.
Mr. Osborne was chairman of the board of the Associated Press from 2002 to 2007. He also has served as chairman of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and as a director of the Newspaper Association of America.
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Eric Kallgren Boulder, Colorado USA | Posted at 12:02pm on Friday, June 12, 2009 |
Scott Flanders, currently the president and CEO of Freedom Communications, is leaving the company to become CEO of Playboy Enterprises. He will start his new job at Playboy on July 1, 2009.
Christie Hefner, daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, stepped down as CEO of Playboy Enterprises at the end of 2008, after 20 years with the company.
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Maria Kenez Mesa AZ | Posted at 5:47pm on Friday, February 13, 2009 |
please do not deliver your free paper to me. I did not ask for it and I do not want it. (Not saying it is bad or good, just unnecessary.)
Thanks
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Liz Doty Harlingen texas | Posted at 3:50pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 |
I would like to have information run in the community section/calendar/events etc...about an upcoming pageant to be heldat the marine Military Academy. How can I get the information to the Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen papers??? and how often can it run?? thank you
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