The first issue of 1966's, "The Reporter."

Early on, the Mission Viejo Co. was promoting the City of Mission Viejo as a “hometown,” and did you know the earliest sales slogans for Mission Viejo were: “Where Home is a Hometown Again” and “America’s Most Successful New Town”?

According to lore and Dru Maurer Cultural Affairs supervisor, new residents believed they were moving to what was going to be the best town in the United States even though in those days there were very few amenities; in some cases not even a place to shop.

In fact, in January 1966, the Mission Viejo Co. started publishing a monthly newspaper named the Mission Viejo Reporter— this was two months before anyone lived in Mission Viejo. Through the Mission Viejo Reporter, which published almost entirely positive news about Mission Viejo, residents were kept abreast of how their town was growing (in population and in new amenities), they learned names of local shopkeepers and the services they offered, they learned the names of new residents, and opportunities to serve.

Almost every month, the newspaper reinforced to residents that they were part of a great new community — the newspaper helped give residents “ownership” in Mission Viejo.

The Reporter was published for about 20 years; today, Mission Viejo Television (MVTV) has replaced the Reporter— providing “hometown” news and important information for Mission Viejo residents.

According to the City web site, “MVTV is the City of Mission Viejo’s national award-winning Government Channel. Programming includes a community notice bulletin board, locally produced programming, and live broadcasts of City Council meetings. MVTV is available on Cox Cable channel 30 in Mission Viejo, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.”