Diocese of Orange Media Policy (Amended March 2023)
To members of the media:
The diverse, historic and faithful Diocese of Orange — anchored by the world-famous Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Bishop of Orange — is a great source of pride and interest not only to our local Orange County community, but to the Southern California region at large.
As a result, the Diocese regularly receives media interest in what happens at Christ Cathedral, our schools, parishes, cemeteries and Catholic centers. Requests come in multiple languages and from various outlets, including broadcast television stations, newspapers and specialty publications.In keeping with our commitment to transparency and sharing our mission and love of Christ, we regularly facilitate interviews, gather information and provide multimedia materials (pictures, video, etc.) with members of the media.In the pages below, presented by the Office of Communications team, you will find our policy that professionally facilitates requests between media outlets — which include television reporters, print journalists and bloggers — and our Diocesan community.
Sincerely,
Jarryd Gonzales
Head of Communications
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
jgonzales@rcbo.org
Office: (714) 282-3075
Official Diocese Media Contacts
The Diocese of Orange kindly requests that all media inquiries — including cathedral, parish and school site access, interview requests, press credentials and official Diocesan photographs — be directed to the Office of Communications, which is based at the Pastoral Center on the Christ Cathedral campus in Garden Grove. Please note that priests, staff, schoolteachers and other Church representatives are not permitted to provide comment or agree to interviews before connecting with the Office of Communications first.
The Office of Communications team is available seven days a week, and will reply to inquiries on a timely basis.
Jarryd Gonzales
Head of Communications
jgonzales@rcbo.org
Office: (714) 282-3075
Bradley Zint
Assistant Director of Communications
bzint@rcbo.org
Office: (714) 282-6052
Mobile: (657) 390-3914
Media Access to Diocese Property
The Diocesan team routinely invites media to cover press conferences, Masses and other events that are of interest to the community. However, unless otherwise invited to cover a story, broadcast cameras and reporters are not allowed on school or parish property. Media wishing to cover a story within the Diocese are requested to first contact the Office of Communications.
Media Coverage of Diocese Events
As a general rule, all media representatives, including camera operators and photographers, are required to have the following: a Diocese-issued press credential, an on-site Office of Communications escort, or both.
Access to Event or Archival Photos
The Diocese of Orange maintains an extensive photography archive that includes photos of major Diocese and parish events. It also has photos of all Diocesan-owned properties. These photos are available for media use as well as the general public upon request.
Broadcast Rules for Diocesan Events at Christ Cathedral
The following rules apply specifically to broadcast outlets wishing to cover an event at Christ Cathedral. It is the policy of the Diocese of Orange and Christ Cathedral that no broadcast media outlet is allowed to film Christ Cathedral campus events in a matter that duplicates or replaces the campus’ livestream capabilities.
Broadcast stations that wish to use the entirety of a Christ Cathedral campus event video, whether on a live basis or for broadcast later, are only permitted to do so by using the official livestream feed. Stations are not permitted to set up their own set of camera(s) for the purposes of replicating the event’s official livestream. This rule is in accordance with standard industry procedures that have live events and one official video feed.
With advance notice, the Office of Communications and its broadcast team are happy to provide technical support — such as help with baseband video or off-site web-based links — for any outlet wishing to use the livestream feed. The office will also assign parking spaces for stations that wish to carry the Diocese’s official feed live using their own satellite vehicles. Please note, however, that all media outlets should be self-sufficient. The Diocese does not provide internet connections or power to your equipment, satellite vehicles or network.
Broadcast outlets, with permission from the Diocese’s Office of Communications, may film portions of campus events, such as Masses, provided they have a media credential and, when required, are escorted by an Office of Communications representative.
Broadcast outlets may also conduct live or prerecorded interviews on campus with willing participants or parishioners, provided that such interviews are not done in a matter that interrupts the Mass, the event or other church activity. Interviews with Diocese of Orange bishops, priests, Christ Cathedral staff or other Diocesan employees need to be arranged in advance with the Office of Communications, which will be happy to facilitate such requests.
Access to Event or Archival Photos
The Diocese of Orange maintains an extensive photography archive that includes photos of major Diocese and parish events. It also has photos of all Diocesan-owned properties. These photos are available for media use as well as the general public upon request.
Broadcast Rules for Diocesan Events at Christ Cathedral
The following rules apply specifically to broadcast outlets wishing to cover an event at Christ Cathedral. It is the policy of the Diocese of Orange and Christ Cathedral that no broadcast media outlet is allowed to film Christ Cathedral campus events in a matter that duplicates or replaces the campus’ livestream capabilities.
Broadcast stations that wish to use the entirety of a Christ Cathedral campus event video, whether on a live basis or for broadcast later, are only permitted to do so by using the official livestream feed. Stations are not permitted to set up their own set of camera(s) for the purposes of replicating the event’s official livestream. This rule is in accordance with standard industry procedures that have live events and one official video feed.
With advance notice, the Office of Communications and its broadcast team are happy to provide technical support — such as help with baseband video or off-site web-based links — for any outlet wishing to use the livestream feed. The office will also assign parking spaces for stations that wish to carry the Diocese’s official feed live using their own satellite vehicles. Please note, however, that all media outlets should be self-sufficient. The Diocese does not provide internet connections or power to your equipment, satellite vehicles or network.
Broadcast outlets, with permission from the Diocese’s Office of Communications, may film portions of campus events, such as Masses, provided they have a media credential and, when required, are escorted by an Office of Communications representative.
Broadcast outlets may also conduct live or prerecorded interviews on campus with willing participants or parishioners, provided that such interviews are not done in a matter that interrupts the Mass, the event or other church activity. Interviews with Diocese of Orange bishops, priests, Christ Cathedral staff or other Diocese employees need to be arranged in advance with the Office of Communications, which will be happy to facilitate such requests.
Digital Resources for Media
The Office of Communications maintains several social media accounts for the Diocese of Orange, Christ Cathedral and its official Diocesan newspaper, Orange County Catholic. Other accounts are maintained individually by their respective schools, parishes, Catholic centers or Catholic organizations (i.e., Catholic Charities of Orange County).
Diocese of Orange Social Media
Website: rcbo.org
Instagram: @orangediocese
Facebook: @orangediocese
Twitter: @orangediocese
YouTube: @dioceseorange
Vimeo: @rcbo
Christ Cathedral Social Media
Website: ChristCathedralca.com
Facebook: @christcathedralca
Instagram: @christcathedralca
Orange County Catholic Social Media
Website: OCCatholic.com
Podcast: OCCatholic.com/radio
