Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications, "headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications, broadcast television stations and interactive businesses. In addition to the television group, the company’s portfolio includes 33 daily and 77 weekly newspapers, including The Orange County Register, magazines and other specialty publications, plus news, information and entertainment websites to complement its print and broadcast properties. Freedom’s newspaper publications have a combined circulation of more than one million subscribers. The broadcast stations – five CBS, two ABC network affiliates and one CW affiliate – reach more than 3 million households across the country."

"The story of Freedom Communications begins in Alliance, Ohio, with the birth of Raymond Cyrus Hoiles on November 24, 1878. R.C. (as he was called through most of his life) was the son of an industrious and prosperous farmer named Samuel Harrison Hoiles and his wife, Ann Ladd Hoiles, a woman who instilled in her family her love for reading and philosophy. It was under their firm guidance that R.C. developed his strong sense of self-responsibility and thirst for knowledge – two characteristics that would profoundly shape his life...

"Clarence Harrison Hoiles, the eldest son, succeeded R.C. as the company's chief executive until his death in 1981. Harry Howard Hoiles, the younger son, was publisher of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph from 1946 to 1975. He served as Freedom's president and chief operating officer from 1971 to 1978. He was subsequently vice chairman and assistant executive officer...

"Longtime Freedom publisher D.R. Segal succeeded Clarence as president of Freedom Newspapers, Inc., in 1978. He served in that capacity until 1992, when James N. Rosse was elected to the post of president and chief executive officer...

"In 1999, Samuel C. Wolgemuth became President/CEO at which time the company added newspapers in Mesa and Yuma, Arizona to the chain.

"In 2002 Alan Bell, former President of Freedom's Broadcasting Division, became President/CEO of Freedom Communications.

"In 2004, Freedom partnered with The Blackstone Group and Providence Equity Partners, creating a recapitalization opportunity for those family members who wanted to sell their shares for cash, while allowing those who wanted to continue in ownership to stay. In the arrangement with Blackstone/Providence, Freedom’s family shareholders maintain control of the company.

"On Oct. 3, 2005, Freedom's Board of Directors elected Scott N. Flanders to become the next Chief Executive Officer effective Jan. 1, 2006. "

Directors
Accessed December 2008:


 * Thomas W. Bassett - Chair
 * William F. Baker
 * Raymond C. H. Bryan
 * Scott N. Flanders
 * Jill A. Greenthal
 * Robin J. Hardie
 * Burl Osborne
 * Chris Philibbosian
 * James J. Spanfeller
 * David M. Tolley
 * Gregory J. Wallace

Contact

 * Web: http://www.freedom.com

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Pacific Research Institute
 * Cato Institute
 * Reason Foundation - Richard A. Wallace