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{{short description|Former American media conglomerate}}
[[Image:Freedom Communications Logo.png|thumb|Freedom Communications logo]]

'''Freedom Communications, Inc.''' was an American [[media conglomerate]] that operated newspapers, magazines, television stations and websites across the United States. [[Raymond C. Hoiles]] organized the company in 1950 and headquartered it in [[Santa Ana, California]], but later relocated to [[Irvine, California|Irvine]]. It's flagship title was the ''[[Orange County Register]].'' Under Holies and his two sons, the company embraced a [[Libritarian]] philosophy in its editorial content.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=August 15, 1982 |title=Freedom Chain To Buy N.C. Television Station |work=The Herald-Sun |location=Durham, North Carolina |page=12 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Holies died in 1970 and the company was then managed by his decedents. The Holies family lost control of Freedom Communications after it declared bankruptcy in 2009. Investment firms then sold off most assets, with the name and seven titles purchased by [[private equity firm]] 2100 Trust, established by investor Aaron Kushner.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rieder |first=Rem |date=June 25, 2013 |title=One newspaper cuts to survive; another invests to thrive |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/rieder/2013/06/25/rem-rieder-newspapers/2457629/ |access-date=2014-04-17 |website=USA Today |publisher=}}</ref> The company went bankrupt a second time in 2015 and its last two remaining newspapers were sold at auction to [[Digital First Media]].

==History==

=== Origins and growth ===
In 1919, Ohio newsmen [[Raymond C. Hoiles]] and his brother Frank A. Holies, who owned [[The Alliance Review|''The Alliance Review'']], purchased the ''Lorain Times-Herald.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 30, 1919 |title=Ownership Of Ohio Newspapers Changed |work=Springfield News-Sun |location=Springfield, Ohio |page=3}}</ref> In 1922, R.C. Holies and F.A. Holies purchased the [[Mansfield News Journal|''Mansfield News'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 1922 |title=Publisher's Announcement |work=News Journal |location=Mansfield, Ohio |page=1}}</ref> In 1927, R.C. Holies acquired the [[Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum|''Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum'']]<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1927 |title=Newspaper at Bucyrus Sold to Ohio Publishers |work=The Washington Herald |location=Washington, D.C. |page=2}}</ref> and at some point he sold his stake in the ''Review'' back to his elder brother.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 28, 1984 |title=Hoiles left mark on paper |work=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=117}}</ref> He also sold the [[Mansfield News Journal|''Mansfield News'']] and ''Lorain Times-Herald'' in 1930 to [[Brush-Moore Newspapers]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1930 |title=Two Papers Sold To Brush-Moore {{!}} R.C. Hoiles Sells Mansfield News, Loran Times-Herald |work=The Independent |page=1 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 

In March 1935, R.C. Holies bought [[The Orange County Register|''The Orange County Register'']] and moved his base of operations to [[Santa Ana, California]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1935 |title=Ohio Newspaperman Acquires Substantial Interest In Santa Ana Daily Register |work=The Register |location=Santa Ana, California |page=1}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=November 21, 1935 |title=Santa Ana Register Sold By J.F. Burke |work=Ventura County Star |location=Ventura, California |page=1 |agency=United Press}}</ref> He then acquired the [[Clovis News-Journal|''Clovis News-Journal'']] in November 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1935 |title=Holies Purchase New Mexico Paper |work=The Register |location=Santa Ana, California |page=9}}</ref> His brother F.A. Holies died in a car crash in December 1936.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 30, 1936 |title=Alliance Review Publisher Killed {{!}} Frank Hoiles, Auto-Crash Victim, Once Figured in Sensational Kidnapping. |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=11}}</ref> R.C. Holies bought [[The Gazette-Telegraph|''The Gazette-Telegraph'']] in January 1946,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 11, 1946 |title=Hoile's Buy Colo. Springs Newspaper |work=Telegraph-Forum |location=Bucyrus, Ohio |page=1}}</ref> and [[Marysville Appeal Democrat|''Marysville Appeal Democrat'']] in March 1946.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1946 |title=Appeal-Democrat Sold For Price Above $300,000 |work=Colusa Sun-Herald |pages=1 |agency=United Press}}</ref>

In April 1950, [[R.C. Hoiles]] merged his three publishing companies together to form Freedom Newspapers, Inc. The newly formed company published daily newspapers in California, Colorado and Ohio.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 19, 1950 |title=Register, Three Other Papers, Merged as 'Freedom Newspapers' |work=The Register |location=Santa Ana, California |page=3}}</ref> In October 1951, Freedom acquired three Texas newspapers: [[The Brownsville Herald|''The Brownsville Herald'']], ''McAllen Valley Evening Monitor, Harlingen Morning Star.'' With the sale, the company owned 10 daily newspapers with a total circulation of 135,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1951 |title=Freedom Newspapers Inc. Buys Three Texas Papers |work=The Register |location=Santa Ana, California |page=13}}</ref> In 1965, Freedom acquired the [[Turlock Journal|''Turlock Journal'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1965 |title=Turlock Journal Is Sold |work=The San Francisco Examiner |page=18}}</ref>

In 1969, Freedom acquired four Florida papers: [[Panama City News-Herald|''Panama City News-Herald'']], ''Fort Pierce News-Tribune'', ''[[Fort Walton Beach, Florida|Fort Walton Beach]]'' [[Playground Daily News|''Playground Daily News'']], and the ''Marianna Floridan''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 25, 1969 |title=4 Florida Newspapers Joining Freedom Group |work=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=17}}</ref> In 1970, Holies died at age 90. At that time the Freedom Newspaper chain was one of the largest in the nation, with a total circulation over 500,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 31, 1970 |title=Santa Ana Publisher R.C. Hoiles, National News Chain Head, Dies |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=25}}</ref> The company acquired the [[Porterville Recorder|''Porterville Recorder'']] in April 1974,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 1974 |title=Newspaper sale revealed |work=Tulare Advance-Register |page=2}}</ref> [[New Bern Sun Journal|''New Bern Sun Journal'']] in May 1974,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1974 |title=Freedom buys Sun-Journal |work=The Greensboro Record |page=44 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> [[Victorville Daily Press|''Victorville Daily Press'']] in January 1978,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1978 |title=Victorville Press sold |work=Ventura County Star |pages=10 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> and [[Burlington Times-News|''Burlington Times-News'']] in July 1978.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1978 |title=Freedom Expands |work=Valley Morning Star |location=Harlingen, Texas |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Legal battle for company ===
Following the death of Holies, the company was owned by his three children, Clarence H. Hoiles, Harry H. Hoiles and Mary Jane Holies Hardie.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Vartabedian |first=Ralph |date=April 16, 1982 |title=Freedom Newspaper Suit Seen as Outgrowth of Philosophical Dispute |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=58}}</ref> A bitter feud ensued over the fate of the company, with H.H. Hoiles against his two siblings.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Granelli |first=James S. |date=April 5, 1987 |title=Keeping Harry Hoiles at Bay {{!}} Freedom Newspapers Families Frank in Discussing Rift |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=134}}</ref> Harry Hoiles was named company president following his father's death.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1998 |title=Former Freedom Communications head, Harry Hoiles, dies |work=The Odessa American |location=Odessa, Texas |page=9 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was rebuked in his attempt at becoming [[Chief executive officer]] and later claimed his siblings froze him out of company management and stopped him from selling his shares to a third-party.<ref name=":3" /> The eldest of the three, Clarence Hoiles, who was instrumental and establishing the company and worked with his father in upper management and eventually became board chairman, died in 1982.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 1982 |title=Clarence H. Hoiles, 76; newspaper group head |work=The Daily Register |location=Red Bank, New Jersey |page=4 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 

As Freedom Newspapers softened it's stance on [[Libertarianism]], Harry Hoiles became disenchanted and attempted to breakup the company. At that time, Freedom was the country's 15th largest chain. It was worth $640 million and owned 31 newspapers with a combined circulation of 800,000.<ref name=":2" /> The goal was to form his own company.<ref name=":3" /> After the breakup failed, Harry Hoiles attempted to buy the Freedom. One offer was $700,000 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Granelli |first=James S. |date=October 2, 1985 |title=Harry Hoiles Sweetens His Offer to $700 Million {{!}} Freedom Newspapers Ante Raised |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=40}}</ref> Clarence Hoiles's three daughters sued their uncle for mismanaging the trust of their deceased brother.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1985 |title=Battle Renewed Over Freedom Newspapers {{!}} Suit Claims Mishandling of Trust by Harry Hoiles |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=83}}</ref> The courts ruled against H.H. Holies in 1987 and he eventually resigned from the board of directors.<ref name=":4" /> Mary J. Hardie, who served on the company board for many years, died in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 9, 1996 |title=Hardie helped to define newspaper dynasty goals |work=Turlock Journal |page=8}}</ref> Her brother Harry Holies died in 1998.<ref name=":4" />

=== Expansion into TV ===
Freedom Newspapers expanded into television in 1981 when it purchased [[KTVL-TV]] from Sierra Cascade Communication.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 20, 1981 |title=Sister station of KTVZ sold to paper chain |work=The Bulletin |page=2 |agency=United Press International}}</ref> It then purchased [[WLNE-TV]] in 1982 from [[Pulitzer Broadcasting]] for $15.5 million,<ref name=":0" /> followed by [[KFDM-TV]] and [[WTVC-TV]] in 1983 from [[A.H. Belo Corp.]]<nowiki/>for $49 million,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1983 |title=Freedom buys 2 TV stations |work=The Monitor |location=McAllen, Texas |page=35}}</ref> and [[WRGB-TV]] in 1985 from [[Universal Communications Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 1985 |title=WRGB-TV station sold for second time in two years |work=Rapid City Journal |location=Rapid City, South Dakota |page=16 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 1992, Freedom acquired the [[Fullerton News Tribune|''Fullerton News Tribune'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 8, 1992 |title=In Brief {{!}} Freedom Newspapers Inc. acquires Fullerton paper |work=Daily Press |location=Victorville, California |page=10}}</ref> In 1993, the company was renamed to Freedom Communications.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1993 |title=New name reflects Freedom's strategy to grow. diversity |work=Daily Press |location=Victorville, California |page=12}}</ref> In September 1995, Freedom agreed to purchase [[WPEC-TV]] from Photo Electronics Corp.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 28, 1995 |title=Freedom to buy TV station |work=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=22}}</ref> The deal was completed about six months later.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Minch |first=Jack |date=February 7, 1996 |title=Freedom completes deal for Channel 12 {{!}} WPEC-TV to continue airing CBS programming |work=Fort Pierce Tribune |page=12}}</ref>

In February 1995, Freedom acquired [[The Tustin News|''The Tustin News'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 23, 1995 |title=New Regime Takes Over Today {{!}} Tustin News Sold to Freedom Newspapers |work=The Tustin News |page=1}}</ref> In June 1995, Freedom traded the [[Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum|''Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum'']] in Ohio and ''Dothan Progress'' in Alabama to [[Thomson Newspapers]] for the ''[[Desert Dispatch]]'' and [[Jacksonville Journal-Courier|''Jacksonville Journal-Courier'']].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kerber |first=Ross |date=June 20, 1995 |title=Freedom Communications, Thomson Swap Newspapers |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=140}}</ref> In May 1996, Freedom sold the [[Turlock Journal|''Turlock Journal'']] to Central Valley Publishing, a subsidiary of USMedia Group, Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moran |first=Tim |date=May 23, 1996 |title=Turlock newspaper is sold {{!}} Journal goes to USMedia, after 31 years with Freedom group |work=The Modesto Bee |pages=21}}</ref> In January 1998, the company acquired [[WWMT-TV]] and [[WLAJ-TV]] from Granit Broadcasting Co. for $170 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banas |first=Teri |date=January 16, 1998 |title=Granite to sell WLAJ-TV {{!}} Ownership change will be local ABC affiliate's second in last two years |work=Lansing State Journal |page=13}}</ref> In 2000, Freedom purchased all the newspapers in Arizona owned by [[Thomson Newspapers]]. The sale included the [[Ahwatukee Foothills News|''Ahwatukee Foothills News'']], [[East Valley Tribune|''East Valley Tribune'']] and [[Yuma Sun|''Yuma Sun'']].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 27, 2000 |title=Freedom Buys Thomson's Newspapers In State |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KlALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6815,6629771 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |work=Kingman Daily Miner |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Sale to private equity ===
In March 2003, a majority of the Hoiles family voted to sell the company, which at that time included 25 newspapers and eight television stations. Freedom Communications was valued at $2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mirhadi |first=David |date=March 11, 2003 |title=Marysville Appeal-Democrat part of Freedom's sale |work=The Union |location=Grass Valley, California |page=3}}</ref> That October, a majority interest in Freedom Communications was sold to a group of investors led by the [[Blackstone Group]] and [[Providence Equity Partners]]. Through a stock arrangement, the Hoiles family descendants retained control of the board. The private equity firms received a management fee off the company’s gross revenue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gentile |first=Gary |date=October 15, 2003 |title=Freedom agrees to partnership keeping company in family hands |work=The Desert Sun |location=Palm Springs, California |page=41 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The family sold a 40% stake for $470 million, which allowed some members to cash out.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Heisel |first=William |last2=Powers |first2=Ashley |last3=Reyes |first3=David |date=August 23, 2007 |title=Register is losing architect of its rise {{!}} N. Christian Anderson's job at the paper's parent firm is squeezed out. |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=37}}</ref> As part of this transaction, Freedom had acquired substantial debt.<ref name=":5" />

In 2006, Freedom purchased [[WCWN]] from [[The Tribune Company]] for $17 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2006 |title=Tribune Selling WCWN-TV in Albany For $17 Million |work=The Morning Call |location=Allentwon, Pennsylvania |page=33}}</ref> In spring of 2009, amid the [[Great Recession]], Freedom Communications instituted furloughs for all employees nationwide, followed by a permanent 5% pay cut starting in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kouwe |first1=Zachery |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Owner of ''Orange County Register'' May File for Bankruptcy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/media/31paper.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217093159/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/media/31paper.html |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On September 1, 2009, Freedom Communications went into a [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy reorganization.<ref name="wsj11">{{cite news |author1=Peter Lattman |author2=Russell Adams |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Paper Owner Freedom Plans to File For Chapter 11 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125166593642570507 |work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=de la Merced |first=Michael |date=2009-09-01 |title=Freedom Communications Files for Bankruptcy |url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/freedom-communications-files-for-bankruptcy |access-date=2009-09-02 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The company left bankruptcy on April 30, 2010, under the ownership of investment firms [[Alden Global Capital]], [[Angelo, Gordon & Co.]] and Luxor Capital Group. Lenders to the company also retained a stake in Freedom. Thus, the Holies family lost control of the business after sixty years of ownership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bunis |first=Dena |date=March 10, 2010 |title=Freedom set to emerge from bankruptcy |work=The Brownsville Herald |page=A1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2010 |title=Family no longer owners of Freedom {{!}} Company emerges from bankruptcy |work=The Brownsville Herald |page=A1}}</ref>

On November 2, 2011, Freedom sold its entire television division to [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] for $385 million in a move to eliminate the company's debt. The sale was completed on April 2, 2012.<ref name="ocr-freedomsinclair">{{cite news|last=Milbourn|first=Mary Ann|title=O.C. Register owner sells TV stations|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinclair-324997-stations-company.html|access-date=November 2, 2011|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]]|date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> Freedom began selling the majority of its newspaper portfolio in 2012. Four papers in the Midwest were sold to [[Ohio Community Media]], an affiliate of the private equity firm Versa Capital Management, in May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milbourn |first=Mary Ann |date=May 17, 2012 |title=Freedom Communications sells 4 Midwest papers |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2012/05/17/freedom-communications-sells-4-midwest-papers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323014910/https://www.ocregister.com/2012/05/17/freedom-communications-sells-4-midwest-papers/ |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=November 6, 2025 |website=Orange County Register}}</ref> The ''[[Clovis News Journal]]'' and other newspapers in New Mexico were sold to Stevenson Newspapers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2012 |title=Freedom Communications Announces Sale Of Clovis, NM, News Journal to Clovis Media Inc. |url=http://www.freedom.com/company/full_news2.asp?id=2126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510112250/http://freedom.com/company/full_news2.asp?id=2126 |archive-date=2012-05-10 |access-date=2012-06-04 |website=Freedom Communications}}</ref> Freedom papers in Texas were sold to [[AIM Media Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2012 |title=AIM Media Texas, LLC acquires Texas newspapers |url=http://www.oaoa.com/articles/texas-87557-llc-media.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523151547/http://www.oaoa.com/articles/texas-87557-llc-media.html |archive-date=2012-05-23 |access-date=2012-06-04 |website=Odessa American}}</ref> Its Florida and North Carolina papers were sold to [[Halifax Media Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2012 |title=Freedom announces sale of Florida, N.C. properties to Halifax Media Group |url=http://www.starfl.com/news/news-24960-properties-florida.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604012612/http://www.starfl.com/news/news-24960-properties-florida.html |archive-date=2012-06-04 |access-date=2012-06-04 |website=The Star |publication-place=Port St. Joe, Florida}}</ref>

=== 2100 Trust ===
On July 25, 2012, ''The Orange County Register'' and six other papers were purchased by 2100 Trust LLC.<ref>{{cite news |last=Milbourn |first=Mary Ann |date=July 25, 2012 |title=Freedom Communications closes sale of the Register |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trust-365495-bankruptcy-sale.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829023550/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trust-365495-bankruptcy-sale.html |archive-date=2012-08-29 |access-date=April 1, 2013 |newspaper=Orange County Register (archive)}}</ref> The papers continued to operate under the Freedom Communications name.<ref name="FormerOC">{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Ken |date=November 1, 2013 |title=Former O.C. Register owners sue buyer over withheld payment |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-nov-01-la-fi-oc-register-lawsuit-20131102-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211194721/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-nov-01-la-fi-oc-register-lawsuit-20131102-story.html |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The principal company owner was Aaron Kushner, a former greeting-card executive with no prior media experience.<ref name="FormerOC" /> Kushner paid $50 million for the assets and  agreed to assume the pension liabilities. He soon increased staff, added new sections at the ''Orange County Register'' and began a new daily, the ''Long Beach Register.''<ref name="DozensLaid">{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Ken |date=January 17, 2014 |title=Dozens laid off at Freedom papers |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-register-layoffs-20140117-story.html |access-date=November 6, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> 

In November 2012, Freedom sold the [[Colorado Springs Gazette|''Colorado Springs Gazette'']] to Clarity Media, a subsidiary of [[The Anschutz Corporation]].<ref name="denverbiz12">{{cite web |last=Avery |first=Greg |date=November 30, 2012 |title=Anschutz buys Colorado Springs Gazette |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2012/11/30/anschutz-buys-colorado-springs-gazette.html |access-date=November 30, 2012 |work=Denver Business Journal}}</ref> In April 2013, Freedom sold the ''[[Yuma Sun]]'' and the ''[[Porterville Recorder]]'' to [[RISN Operations|Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers.]]<ref>{{cite news |date=April 30, 2013 |title=Yuma Sun Under New Ownership |url=http://www.yumasun.com/articles/yuma-87169-newspapers-rhode.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630182611/http://www.yumasun.com/articles/yuma-87169-newspapers-rhode.html |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |work=Yuma Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2013 |title=In Brief {{!}} Porterville Recorder sold to private owner |work=The Fresno Bee |pages=B7}}</ref> In June 2013, Freedom sold the ''[[Appeal-Democrat]]'' to Vista California, a subsidiary of Horizon Publications.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-03 |title=Appeal-Democrat, Tri-County papers have new owners |url=https://www.appeal-democrat.com/corning_observer/news/appeal-democrat-tri-county-papers-have-new-owners/article_5e67050b-322e-53ef-b5f2-a00c542d4654.html |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Appeal-Democrat |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 1, 2013 |title=Sales of four north-valley newspapers announced |url=http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_23368084/sales-four-north-valley-newspapers-announced |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004115935/https://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_23368084/sales-four-north-valley-newspapers-announced |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |website=Chicoer.com}}</ref>

In October 2013, the former owners of Freedom Communications field a lawsuit against Aaron Kushner demanding his company pay more than $17 million remaining on the sale. Kushner claimed that the prior owners had given him an inaccurate valuation of the assets and he faced $62.3 million in unexpected financial liabilities as a result.<ref name="FormerOC" />

In November 2013, Freedom purchased the ''[[Riverside Press-Enterprise]]'' from [[A.H. Belo Corporation]] for $27 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bensinger |first=Ken |date=November 22, 2013 |title=Sale of Riverside newspaper closes |url= |access-date= |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Ken |date=2013-11-21 |title=Sale of Riverside Press-Enterprise to Aaron Kushner closes, finally |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-press-enterprise-sale-completed-20131121-story.html |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2014, the company laid off 71 workers in Riverside and Santa Ana.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bensinger |first=Ken |date=January 17, 2014 |title=Dozens laid off at Freedom papers {{!}} Loss of 71 workers in Riverside and Santa Ana is sharp reversal of recent expansion. |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=21}}</ref> In March 2014, Freedom sold the ''[[Daily Press (California)|Daily Press]]'' and the ''[[Desert Dispatch]]'' to [[New Media Investment Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milbourn |first=Mary Ann |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Register owner sells Victorville, Barstow newspapers |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2014/03/03/register-owner-sells-victorville-barstow-newspapers/ |website=Orange County Register}}</ref> In December 2014, the ''Long Beach Register'' ceased.<ref name="LBRstops">{{cite news |last1=Pfeifer |first1=Stuart |last2=Khouri |first2=Andrew |date=December 28, 2014 |title=Long Beach Register stops publishing |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-long-beach-register-stops-publishing-20141228-story.html |access-date=2014-12-30 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

On November 1, 2015, Freedom Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 11 Petition|url=http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/E2KX7FY/Freedom_Communications_Holdings__cacbke-15-15312__0001.0.pdf|website=PacerMonitor|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> In January 2016, Freedom closed several of its weekly papers in Orange County.<ref>{{Cite web| title = OC Register To Cut a Bunch of Community Weeklies, Among Other Belt-Tightening Moves| work = OC Weekly| access-date = 2018-05-30| date = 2016-01-08| url = https://www.ocweekly.com/oc-register-to-cut-a-bunch-of-community-weeklies-among-other-belt-tightening-moves-6885791/}}</ref> On March 21, 2016 a bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Freedom Communications and its two major newspapers, the ''[[Orange County Register]]'' and the ''[[Riverside Press-Enterprise]]'', to [[Digital First Media]], the parent of the Los Angeles News Group, which operated eleven daily newspapers in [[Southern California]]. After the sale, the subsidiary was renamed to Southern California News Group.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200729230146/http://www.talkingnewmedia.com/2016/03/21/bankruptcy-judge-approves-digital-first-media-purchase-of-freedom-communications-assets/ Talking New Media blog: "Bankruptcy judge approves Digital First Media purchase of Freedom Communications assets"], by D.B. Hebbard21 March 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2016/03/memo_la_news_group_now_so.php LA Observed blog: "Memo: LA News Group now So Cal News Group"], by Kevin Roderick, 21 March 2016.</ref>

==Leadership==
Founder and chief executive officer [[R.C. Hoiles]] led Freedom until his death in 1970. He was succeeded as [[chief executive officer]] by his son, C.H. Hoiles, who served until 1981, and then by:
* D.R. Segal (1981–1992)
* James N. Rosse (1992–1999)
* Samuel C. Wolgemuth (1999–2002)
* Alan Bell (2002–2006)
* Scott N. Flanders (2006–2009)
* Burl Osborne (2009–2010)
* Mitchell Stern (2010–2012)
* Aaron Kushner (2012–2015)
* Rich Mirman (2015−2016)

==Newspapers==
{{refimprove section|date=January 2014}}
Freedom's newspaper portfolio consists of:

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]'''
* Weekly newspapers:
** ''[[Easy Reader]]''  of [[Hermosa Beach, California|Hermosa Beach]] (managed by Freedom pursuant to long-term agreement);<ref>Mary Ann Milbourn, [http://www.ocregister.com/articles/easy-598237-reader-angeles.html "Register owner expands in L.A."], ''[[Orange County Register]]'', January 21, 2014.</ref> includes 3 ''Easy Reader'' magazines:
::*''Beach''
::*''Peninsula People''
::*''Drop Zone''

'''[[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]]'''
* ''[[The Press-Enterprise]]'' of [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]<ref name=DozensLaid/>
* Weekly newspaper:
** ''Desert Enterprise'' of Palm Springs<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.kpcc.org/blogs/economy/2014/02/12/15841/o-c-register-parent-to-expand-into-palm-springs/|title=OC Register parent to expand into Palm Springs (updated)|first=Southern California Public|last=Radio|date=February 12, 2014|website=Southern California Public Radio}}</ref>

'''[[Los Angeles metropolitan area|Regional]]'''
* ''Unidos en el Sur de California'' (regional Spanish-language weekly)<ref name="consolidate">Mediha deMartino, [http://www.ocbj.com/news/2014/mar/07/freedom-consolidate-spanish-language-weeklies/ "Freedom to Consolidate Spanish-Language Weeklies"], ''[[Orange County Business Journal]]'', March 7, 2014</ref>

{{col-2}}
'''[[Orange County, California|Orange County]]'''
* ''[[The Orange County Register]]'' of [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]]
* Weekly newspapers:
** ''Anaheim Hills News'' of [[Anaheim Hills, California|Anaheim Hills]]<ref name="meg2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
** ''Anaheim Bulletin'' of [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]]<ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Capistrano Valley News'' of [[San Juan Capistrano, California|San Juan Capistrano]]<ref name="meg1">[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-18-fi-343-story.html Media General Puts 31 Papers, Including 13 in County, Up for Sale]</ref><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''The Current'' of [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/oc-register-current-newport-beach-costa-mesa/|title=OC Register Ramps Up Newport Beach, Costa Mesa Coverage|access-date=2014-01-01|archive-date=2014-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102232715/http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/oc-register-current-newport-beach-costa-mesa_b87493|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dimartino">{{Cite news | last = DiMartino | first = Mediha | title = Sources Say Freedom to Furlough Staff, Trim Long Beach to Weekly Schedule | work = Orange County Business Journal | access-date = 2014-06-15 | date = 2014-05-30 | url = http://www.ocbj.com/news/2014/may/30/sources-say-freedom-furlough-staff-trim-long-beach/ }}</ref>
** ''Dana Point News'' of [[Dana Point, California|Dana Point]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Fountain Valley View'' of [[Fountain Valley, California|Fountain Valley]]
** ''Fullerton News Tribune'' of [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]]<ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Huntington Beach Wave'' of [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]]
** ''Irvine World News'' of [[Irvine, California|Irvine]]<ref name="dimartino"/><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-26-fi-34213-story.html Register Parent Buys 3 Weekly Newspapers]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2013/07/22/irvine-world-news-officially-becomes-daily-newspaper/|title=Irvine World News officially becomes daily newspaper|date=July 22, 2013}}</ref>
** ''La Habra/Brea Star Progress'' of [[La Habra, California|La Habra]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/168407538 |title=La Habra, Brea Papers Purchased |access-date=2017-07-06 |archive-date=2016-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422030403/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/168407538.html |id={{ProQuest|168407538}} |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Ladera Post'' of [[Ladera Ranch, California|Ladera Ranch]]
** ''Laguna News-Post'' of [[Laguna Beach, California|Laguna Beach]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Laguna Niguel/Aliso Viejo News'' of [[Laguna Niguel, California|Laguna Niguel]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Laguna Woods Globe'' of [[Laguna Woods, California|Laguna Woods]]
** ''Orange City News'' of [[Orange, California|Orange]]<ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Placentia News-Times'' of [[Placentia, California|Placentia]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Rancho Canyon News'' of [[Rancho Santa Margarita, California|Rancho Santa Margarita]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Saddleback Valley News'' of [[Lake Forest, California|Lake Forest]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Saddleback Valley News'' of [[Mission Viejo, California|Mission Viejo]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Sun Post News'' of [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
** ''Tustin News'' of [[Tustin, California|Tustin]]
** ''Yorba Linda Star'' of [[Yorba Linda, California|Yorba Linda]]<ref name="meg1"/><ref name="meg2"/>
{{col-end}}

== Former stations ==
* Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and [[city of license]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Stations owned by Freedom Communications{{r|ocr-freedomsinclair}}
! scope="col" | [[Media market]]
! scope="col" | State
! scope="col" | Station
! scope="col" | Purchased
! scope="col" | Sold
|-
| [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] || [[Florida]]
! scope="row" | [[WPEC]]
| 1996 || 2012
|-
| [[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]]–[[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] || rowspan="2" | [[Michigan]]
! scope="row" | [[WWMT]]
| 1998 || 2012
|-
| [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]
! scope="row" | [[WLAJ]]
| 1998 || 2012
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Albany, New York|Albany]]–[[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]] || rowspan="2" | [[New York (state)|New York]]
! scope="row" | [[WRGB]]
| 1986 || 2012
|-
! scope="row" | [[WCWN]]
| 2006 || 2012
|-
| [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] || [[Oregon]]
! scope="row" | [[KTVL]]
| 1981 || 2012
|-
| [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] || [[Rhode Island]]
! scope="row" | [[WLNE-TV]]
| 1982 || 2007
|-
| [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]] || [[Tennessee]]
! scope="row" | [[WTVC]]
| 1983 || 2012
|-
| [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]] || [[Texas]]
! scope="row" | [[KFDM]]
| 1984 || 2012
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=26em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20160330025310/http://www.freedom.com/|name=Archive of the official website on March 30, 2016}}

{{Freedom Communications}}
{{Digital First Media}}
{{SBGI}}
{{Coord|33.7511|-117.8505|display=title}}

[[Category:Freedom Communications| ]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct newspaper companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Digital First Media]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Companies based in Santa Ana, California]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1950]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015]]