MARKETING AND MEDIA

Multimedia Partnership Formed: Irvine-based Freedom Communications Inc., which publishes the Orange County Register, has formed a partnership with five other newspaper owners. The purpose is to share experiences in multimedia development and to invest in research on new technology, the partnership said.

In particular, the group said it is looking into compact discs, facsimile and audio products, on-line computer services, interactive TV and wireless communication.

James N. Rosse, president and chief executive of Freedom, is serving as chairman of the management committee for the partnership, which is called Partners Affiliated for Exploring Technology.

Other members are Central Newspapers Inc. (which owns The Arizona Republic), A.H. Belo Corp. (The Dallas Morning News), Cowles Media Co. (The Minneapolis Star-Tribune), McClatchy Newspapers Inc. (The Sacramento Bee) and Pulitzer Publishing Co. (The St. Louis Post-Dispatch).