Newsroom staff is asked to deliver papers

LOS ANGELES » The Orange County Register is now asking its reporters and other staff members to deliver papers, according to company employees.

Amid continued problems with newspaper deliveries, the paper is offering employees up to $150 in Visa gift cards to deliver hundreds of newspapers on Sundays and Thanksgiving, according to a sign-up form.

A spokesman for Freedom Communications, which publishes the Register, did not respond to emails seeking comment. However, staffers said that an email was sent to employees Thursday asking them to deliver papers.

The effort is part is the Register’s "We Care" campaign, launched after a switch in carriers left thousands of papers undelivered. Previously, the Register asked staffers to make customer service calls to those affected.

The unusual requests signal that problems persist since the Register switched from Los Angeles Times distributors to new carriers in early October.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR