roughly a dozen , mostly nonfiction books . Additionally , Hays produced and hosted the show “ OC Caravan ” for Laguna radio station KX FM and Cox Channel 3 on TV and has served as executive producer of short documentaries for several nonprofits .
OC World is fiscally sponsored by nonprofit incubator Charitable Ventures and supported by the Orange County Community Foundation ; the Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation and Marisla Foundation , both based in Laguna ; Wells Fargo Bank ; Farmers & Merchants Bank ; UCI ; and Santiago Canyon College .
Hays is passionate about OC partly because this is his lifelong home , having grown up in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa , then eventually settling in Laguna , falling in love with its local restaurants , arts and culture scene .
One of the most rewarding projects he spearheaded in Laguna was creating a music CD titled “ Shelter Me ” in 2008 . Featuring performances by homeless musicians , the album raised money for the Friendship Shelter in town and aimed to debunk the sometimes negative perceptions that people have about homeless individuals .
Here , Hays talks about why he ’ s committed to highlighting local issues .
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE : Why did you decide to start OC World ? SCOTT HAYS : We launched in 2021 when the decline of local print coverage hit Orange County and its 3.1 million residents particularly hard . Living in the shadow of the massive Los Angeles market , in effect , Orange County became one of the largest “ news deserts ” in the country . With support from local philanthropic leaders , we stepped into the void . A report by Northwestern University ’ s School of Journalism soon after found … “ signs of hope ” for communities with diminishing local news … coverage — the nonprofit media model .
LBM : What is your mission ? SH : Our mission at OC World is to inform , inspire and engage the community by delivering high-quality journalism and diverse perspectives on issues , events and people shaping Orange County . With a commitment to integrity , transparency and inclusivity , OC World aims to become a trusted source of information and stimulate meaningful dialogue .
LBM : Why is it important to you to shine a light on issues affecting us locally ? SH : It ’ s important because of declining local print and digital news coverage . Our local communities are mostly subjected to nationalized news , which is often divisive and polarized . We are the only PBS TV multimedia public affairs organization focused on Orange County . Through our inclusive stories , we represent the rich diversity of this county and report on the significant triumphs and tragedies that face OC residents .
LBM : What are you currently working on ? SH : At the moment , we ’ re working on stories about the upcoming Southern California wildfire season , the historic transformation of the Irvine Ranch , the power and awe of music , and the new Orange County media landscape . We will never run out of story ideas . g
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