After a local reporter publicly put Santa Ana city officials on notice about stonewalling of public record requests, Mayor Valerie Amezcua surprised him with an impromptu request to lead the city council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Author Archives: Norberto Santana Jr.
Norberto Santana, Jr. is an experienced investigative reporter, serving as founding publisher and editor-in-chief for Voice of OC, overseeing newsroom, engagement and fundraising operations.
He’s also an award-winning columnist, focusing his efforts on First Amendment issues and local government, being recognized multiple years by the Orange County Press Club as the region’s best columnist.
The LA Press Club has named him a Journalist of the Year (2018) and the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has recognized him as a “Distinguished Journalist.” The California Chicano News Media Association has honored him with a lifetime achievement award and the national News Leaders Association has recognized him for his commitment to diverse staffing and coverage.
Santana is a pioneer in the field of nonprofit news having served on the board of directors for the national trade group for nonprofit newsrooms, the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). He also has served on boards of the national nonprofit advocating investigative journalism, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the California First Amendment advocacy group, CalAware.
In addition to journalism, Santana also teaches public affairs and investigative journalism as an adjunct faculty professor at Chapman University.
Before founding Voice of OC in 2009, Santana was a lead investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, focusing on county government. He spent nearly two decades covering local governments across Southern California, previously as a staff writer at the San Diego Union Tribune and San Bernardino County Sun.
Santana began his journalistic career as an apprentice reporter with Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. covering daily floor action in the U.S. Congress and followed that up with a stint covering the territorial Senate for the U.S. Virgin Islands Daily News.
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Santana: Were Santa Ana Police Justified in Firing On Peaceful Protesters?
City officials and law enforcement continue to ignore questions about their response to the summer ICE protests.
Posted inCountywide
Headlines Across OC as Angel Stadium Sale Debate Intensifies
Anaheim leaders try to figure out the condition of Angel Stadium as the sale debate seems to be starting again. Meanwhile, Anaheim’s city manager is facing tough questions about conflicts of interest related to the failed previous effort to sell off the stadium.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Santana: Next Chair of OC Supervisors is Likely a Republican Despite Democrat Majority
Republican Supervisor Janet Nguyen is likely the next Chair of the OC Board of Supervisors, with Democratic Supervisor Katrina Foley on track to being passed over again – this time during a reelection bid.
Posted inNorberto Santana, Jr.
Santana: Amid The Cold Chill of a Holiday Lull, a Race for Congress in OC Heats Up
A rare matchup next year between two Republican Congress members for a redistricted seat straddling OC and Riverside is already heating up.
Posted inRancho Santa Margarita
Santana: Putting Politicians on Notice in Rancho Santa Margarita
Concerned residents are videotaping city council meetings in one of the last two holdout cities in OC that won’t allow taxpayers to watch policymaking from home.
Posted inNorberto Santana, Jr.
Santana: Keeping OC From Becoming a News Desert
Over the next two months, during the Fall NewsMatch campaign, Orange County residents can ensure they’re not among 50 million Americans without access to local news.
Posted inGovernment
Santana: Keeping Tabs on Politicians’ Discretionary Spending in Orange County
After a column looking at county supervisors discretionary spending, there’s talk of hiking county disclosures but no mention of imposing limits on how much each supervisor gets to spend, if anything, going forward.
Posted inNorberto Santana, Jr.
Santana: Should Elected Officials Get To Spend Public Money Themselves?
The Andrew Do corruption scandal at the County of Orange has put an ongoing focus on how much influence elected officials should have over public budgets with discretionary funds as officials debate financial planning over the next few months.
Posted inCountywide
Santana: Time For an Elected Orange County CEO?
The Andrew Do corruption scandal inside the County of Orange should prompt questions about whether it’s time for residents to elect a real CEO for county government.
