ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən, hˈɪlɪɚd wʌz nˈeɪmd ˈɛdɪɾɚɹ ʌvðɪ oːɹɡˈoʊniən, wɪð "fˈʊl kəntɹˈoʊl ˌoʊvɚ ðə nˈuːzpeɪpɚz nˈuːz ænd ˌɛdɪtˈoːɹɪəl dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənts."
In 1987, Hilliard was named editor of The Oregonian, with "full control over the newspaper's news and editorial departments."