Comprehensive guide to Nevada's newspapers serving the Silver State from Las Vegas to Reno. Nevada's press spans from major metropolitan dailies covering gaming and tourism to small-town weeklies preserving the legacy of mining camp journalism from the 1850s Comstock Lode era.
31
Total Newspapers
7
Daily Publications
1865
Oldest Paper (Nevada Appeal)
8/23
Free/Paid Circulation
Note: Nevada has 7 daily newspapers and 23 paid circulation newspapers statewide. The state's newspaper industry reflects Nevada's unique geography - with 9.7% of the population residing in rural and frontier counties, local journalism remains essential for small communities across the Silver State.
Major Daily Newspapers
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Location: Las Vegas
Founded: 1909
Circulation: 39,833 daily (September 2023) / 59,090 combined print and digital
Format: Daily broadsheet
Ownership: Stephens Media Group (acquired by Sheldon Adelson family in 2015 for $140 million)
Coverage: Nevada's largest newspaper covering metro Las Vegas news, gaming industry, politics, sports, entertainment
Notable: Largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada and one of two daily newspapers in the Las Vegas area
Digital: Strong video coverage, mobile apps, live news updates
Construction Notebook - Construction industry news and project updates
Edible Reno-Tahoe Magazine - Local food, sustainable dining, farm-to-table movement
Elevate Nevada - Lifestyle and culture magazine
El Tiempo - Spanish-language news and community coverage
High Rise Life Magazine - Urban living and luxury lifestyle
Link Magazine - Business and professional networking
Nevada Magazine - State tourism, history, and culture
The Nevada Rancher - Agriculture, ranching, and rural issues
RANGE Magazine - Western lifestyle, conservation, ranching perspectives
College and University Student Newspapers
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)
The Nevada Sagebrush - For over 100 years the Nevada Sagebrush has been informing the University community about all aspects of campus life. Nevada's editorially independent, monthly student newspaper (called simply "Sagebrush" prior to 2004). Won Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award seven times: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Website: nevadasagebrush.com
Brushfire - University's official literary and arts magazine
Wolf Pack Radio - Student-run station simulcasting via internet and 1700AM
Insight Magazine - Newest magazine on campus produced solely by University students
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
Scarlet and Gray Free Press - Student newspaper covering many topics about higher education at UNLV and across the state
Nevada Central Media Expansion
Nevada Central Media (NVC Media), a leading publisher of community newspapers in rural Nevada, significantly expanded in 2024 from publishing one weekly newspaper to four. By acquiring historic publications - some serving their communities for over 150 years - Nevada Central Media ensures the continued vitality of local journalism in rural Nevada.
Rural Journalism Challenge: Nevada is the eighth least densely populated state in the United States, with 9.7% of the population residing in rural and frontier counties. Newspapers remain the primary source of information for small, rural communities. While radio and television play critical roles, local newspapers provide regular local information that broadcast media often cannot due to time, resources, and staffing constraints.
Historical Context and Comstock Legacy
First Newspaper: Gold-Cañon Switch of Johntown (circa 1854) - handwritten, no copies exist. Mining community four miles from Virginia City on the Comstock
First Printed Newspaper: Territorial Enterprise (December 18, 1858, Genoa) - moved to Carson City then Virginia City during silver rush
Mark Twain Connection: Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) worked for the Territorial Enterprise alongside Dan De Quille (William Wright), Joe Goodman, Alf Doten, and Wells Drury
Mining Camp Journalism: The mining industry gave Nevada more ghost towns than live ones. Mining camp newspapers followed boom-to-bust patterns of the camps themselves
Newspaper Survival: Eureka Sentinel (1870) and Nevada Appeal (1865) survive from Nevada's early statehood era
Las Vegas History: Las Vegas Review-Journal founded 1909, originally Clark County Review, renamed Las Vegas Review in 1926 when Frank Garside brought in Al Cahlan as partner
Time Capsule Discovery: April 16, 2019 - an edition of the Nevada State Journal from 1872 was found in a time capsule in the cornerstone of a demolished Masonic lodge in Reno
Nevada Press Association
The Nevada Press Association is the official member trade organization for news publications in Nevada, a non-profit organization representing seven daily and thirty-five weekly news publications in Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area.
Resources and Archives
Chronicling America (Library of Congress) - 52 newspapers from Nevada available for viewing, jointly sponsored by National Endowment for the Humanities and Library of Congress. Website: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
UNLV University Libraries - Nevada Newspapers microfilm collection, comprehensive A-Z title index. Website: library.unlv.edu
Washoe County Library - Archive of Reno Gazette-Journal (1983–present) and predecessors Reno Evening Gazette (1876–1983) and Nevada State Journal (1870–1983)
Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records - Historical and online Nevada newspapers collection. Website: nsla.nv.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is Nevada's largest newspaper with a circulation of 39,833 daily (as of September 2023) and 59,090 combined print and digital subscriptions. Founded in 1909, the Review-Journal is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada and one of two daily newspapers in the Las Vegas area. It covers metro Las Vegas news, the gaming industry, politics, sports, and entertainment. The newspaper was acquired by the Sheldon Adelson family (Stephens Media Group) in 2015 for $140 million. The Review-Journal offers strong digital coverage including video, mobile apps, and live news updates.
The Nevada Appeal, first published on May 16, 1865, is Nevada's oldest newspaper still in print - only six years younger than the state itself. Based in Carson City, the Nevada Appeal is also the third-largest newspaper in Nevada behind the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Reno Gazette-Journal. The Eureka Sentinel, founded in 1870, is the oldest surviving newspaper in Nevada and has served the Eureka community for over 150 years. Historically, the first printed newspaper in Nevada was the Territorial Enterprise, which began on December 18, 1858, in Genoa. The Enterprise moved to Carson City and then Virginia City during the silver rush, establishing itself in the 1860s as the best and most influential newspaper in the West with staff including Mark Twain and Dan De Quille.
Nevada has several notable alternative and independent news sources. The Nevada Independent, founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist Jon Ralston, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website focused on ethical, unbiased, and transparent journalism. It specializes in government and politics journalism with year-round coverage of state government and the biennial Nevada Legislature. The Independent is entirely supported by charitable donations with all donors disclosed. Reno News & Review (founded 1995) has been the alternative news voice for Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada, providing independent news, music, arts, opinion, and commentary. Las Vegas Weekly is a free alt-weekly covering nightlife, arts, music, and entertainment with a Gen-X edge. El Mundo, founded in 1980, is the oldest and most widely read Spanish-language newspaper in Nevada with 35,500 copies weekly and over 175,000 readers.
Nevada has several business-focused publications serving different regions. Nevada Business Magazine (founded 1986) is the state's only statewide business magazine, providing information, insight, and commentary to decision makers with industry focuses and economic indicators. In Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Business Press covers gaming, health, real estate, and construction industries, while Vegas Business Digest provides digital coverage of commercial real estate, economy, banking, government, gaming, hospitality, and community news. In Northern Nevada, Northern Nevada Business View (monthly, 5,500 circulation) and Northern Nevada Business Weekly serve the Reno area business community. Trade organizations include the Nevada Press Association, which represents seven daily and thirty-five weekly publications. Specialized publications include Construction Notebook, Nevada Magazine, The Nevada Rancher, and RANGE magazine.
Northern Nevada's major daily newspapers include the Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada Appeal, and Elko Daily Free Press. The Reno Gazette-Journal is northern Nevada's leading daily newspaper, formed October 7, 1983, from the merger of the Nevada State Journal (founded 1870) and Reno Evening Gazette (founded 1876). It is owned by USA Today Co. (Gannett) and covers Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and surrounding areas with local, state, and national news, sports, opinions, and lifestyle content. The newspaper switched from carrier to postal delivery in May 2024. The Nevada Appeal, based in Carson City and founded May 16, 1865, is the state's oldest newspaper still in print and third-largest statewide. The Elko Daily Free Press serves northeastern Nevada with coverage of the mining industry, rural politics, and Great Basin culture.
Newspapers played a crucial role in Nevada's mining history. The first newspaper in present-day Nevada was the handwritten Gold-Cañon Switch of Johntown (circa 1854), a mining community four miles from Virginia City on the Comstock. The Territorial Enterprise, Nevada's first printed newspaper (December 18, 1858), moved from Genoa to Carson City and then Virginia City during the silver rush, establishing itself in the 1860s as the best and most influential newspaper in the West. Giants of journalism including Mark Twain, Dan De Quille (William Wright), Joe Goodman, Alf Doten, and Wells Drury worked for the Enterprise. The mining industry gave Nevada more ghost towns than live ones, and mining camp newspapers followed the same boom-to-bust pattern. Today, newspapers like the Elko Daily Free Press continue the tradition by covering northeastern Nevada's gold mining industry and public lands issues.
Nevada's two major universities publish student newspapers. At the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), The Nevada Sagebrush has been informing the University community for over 100 years. Nevada's editorially independent, monthly student newspaper (called simply "Sagebrush" prior to 2004) has won the prestigious Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award seven times: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. UNR also publishes Brushfire (literary and arts magazine), operates Wolf Pack Radio (student-run station on internet and 1700AM), and produces Insight Magazine. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the Scarlet and Gray Free Press is the student newspaper covering topics about higher education at UNLV and across the state.
Several weekly and bi-weekly newspapers serve Nevada's rural communities. The Ely Times (published Fridays) covers Ely and White Pine County with coverage of rural Nevada life, outdoor recreation, and mining news. The Humboldt Sun (Winnemucca) covers northwestern Nevada's mining, ranching, and rural community news with strong reporting on public lands and agriculture. The Lahontan Valley News (Fallon) is a digital news source covering Churchill County, Naval Air Station affairs, and rural Northern Nevada with emphasis on agricultural and military news. The Record-Courier serves Carson Valley weekly with coverage of water issues, regional growth, and lifestyle. The Pahrump Valley Times (bi-weekly) is the primary news source for Nye County. The Eureka Sentinel (founded 1870) is the oldest surviving newspaper in Nevada. Nevada Central Media expanded significantly in 2024, acquiring historic publications to ensure continued local journalism in rural areas where 9.7% of Nevada's population resides.
Nevada's newspaper circulation has declined significantly in recent years, particularly for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to September 2023 data, the Review-Journal's average paid print circulation fell from 45,383 to 39,833 over 12 months - a sharp one-year decline of 12%. Combined paid print and digital subscriptions fell 6% from 62,900 to 59,090. Since 2015 when Sheldon Adelson's family acquired the paper for $140 million, Review-Journal circulation has dropped 75% including digital subscriptions - close to double the national circulation decrease of about 40% over the same period. During this time, Las Vegas population increased 27% versus only 6% nationally. The Reno Gazette-Journal switched from carrier to postal delivery in May 2024. These trends reflect challenges facing print journalism nationwide, though digital-only outlets like The Nevada Independent (founded 2017) have emerged to fill gaps in coverage.
Several excellent resources provide access to historical Nevada newspapers. The Library of Congress Chronicling America project features 52 newspapers from Nevada available for viewing online, jointly sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and Library of Congress at chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. UNLV University Libraries maintains a comprehensive Nevada Newspapers microfilm collection with an A-Z title index at library.unlv.edu. The University of Nevada, Reno Library provides a Nevada news resources guide including historical newspapers at guides.library.unr.edu. Washoe County Library maintains archives of the Reno Gazette-Journal (1983–present) and its predecessors, the Reno Evening Gazette (1876–1983) and Nevada State Journal (1870–1983). The Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records offers historical and online Nevada newspapers collections at nsla.nv.gov. An edition of the Nevada State Journal from 1872 was discovered in a time capsule in April 2019, demonstrating the enduring historical value of Nevada newspapers.