In the late 1990s, Welch wrote for Tabloid.Net, along with Tim Blair and Ken Layne.[6] In the early 1990s, he was one of the founders of the Prague-based newspaper Prognosis.[7] He researched the effects of UN sanctions against Iraq, often criticizing the reporting of others.[8][9][10] Commentator Mike Rosen praised his research as "yeoman's work."[11]
In 2007, he wrote a portrayal of 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain from a libertarian perspective. In McCain: The Myth of a Maverick,[12] Welch argued that a McCain presidency would advance a statist agenda.[13][14][15][16] Through a FOIA request, Welch obtained a copy of McCain's National War College thesis which, based on his experience as a POW, argued for the teaching of US foreign policy to military recruits.[17]
From 2008 to 2016, he was editor-in-chief at the monthly libertarian journal, Reason.[18] He now serves as editor-at-large.[19] From 2006 to 2007, he was an editorial page editor for the Los Angeles Times.[19] Welch earned the award for "Best Entertainment Review/Criticism/Column" in the 53rd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards, hosted by the Los Angeles Press Club, for his work, "Bailing Out Big Brother: Media criticism goes from rebelling against media oligarchs to handing them a lifeline."[20]
