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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 inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: OC Offers Paris Climate Talks a View Toward the Past
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. warns that the change Orange County business and political leaders are introducing to the Air Quality Management District is a dangerous way to deal with climate change.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: Time Is Now to Move Homeless Into Santa Ana Bus Terminal
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that county supervisors will face a very different civic center homeless situation if the El Niño rains arrive as promised, underscoring the need to open an abandoned bus shelter for the winter.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: A Shelter Isn’t a Strategy
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that county officials need to do much more than vote to set up a homeless shelter in Anaheim, arguing they need to show the public a strategy.
Posted inInside the Newsroom, News Briefs
Voice of OC Launches Membership Program
Members get a free daily email alert of our most recent news and special access to content and events.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Supervisors Continue to Face an Accountability Crisis
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. again delves into the seemingly politicized process underway to expand Office of Independent Review oversight beyond the jails and into other agencies.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: Inaction on Bus Shelter for Homeless Could Trigger Civic Protest
With winter approaching, Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. writes that time is running out for homeless people living at the Orange County Civic Center and activists are considering taking over an abandoned bus shelter.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Playing with Pensions
Orange County’s Auditor Controller Eric Woolery is locked in a heated battle with county retirement administrators and county executives over a quiet deal struck back in February to retroactively fund a pension for Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s first term in office – one where he publicly fought to refuse a public pension.
Posted inCountywide, News Briefs, Top Stories
Rick Reiff’s Inside OC is Back
PBS So Cal brings back the popular public affairs show focused on OC government and politics issues. Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. is featured on one of the first interview segments, talking about the future of non-profit newsrooms.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Will OC Supes Expand Office of Independent Review?
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. ponders what expansion of independent oversight to agencies like DA, Public Defender and Probation might look like and whether OC Supervisors have the pocketbook to play.
