For the first time in over 20 years, something was missing from today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Las Vegas Sun insert is gone. And frankly, it was time.
This wasn’t some sudden decision. It came after years of legal fights, court rulings, and a hard look at what made sense for readers and for business.
Here’s the simple truth. The Review-Journal didn’t just choose to stop printing the Sun. The courts made it clear they had to.
According to the Review-Journal, the partnership between the two papers was never properly approved by the federal government in the first place. That matters.
Under the Newspaper Preservation Act, these agreements need sign-off from the U.S. attorney general. That approval never happened.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the deal was unenforceable. The U.S. Supreme Court let that ruling stand. Then the lower court dissolved the orders that had forced the RJ to keep printing the Sun.
At that point, the RJ didn’t really have a choice.
And let’s be honest. Even if it did, why should one newspaper be forced to subsidize another?
For decades, the RJ handled printing, advertising, and distribution. It carried the load. The Sun got the benefit.
That might have made sense years ago. But today? It doesn’t.
The media world has changed. People don’t rely on print like they used to. They get news on their phones, laptops, and social media.
Joint newspaper deals have been fading out for years. At one point, there were nearly 30 of them across the country. By this year, the RJ-Sun deal was the last one left.
Now it’s gone. And that’s not a tragedy. It’s reality.
Critics will say this move hurts competition or silences a voice. That sounds dramatic, but it’s not accurate.
The Sun still has a website. It still has social media. It can still print and distribute its own paper if it wants. Nothing is stopping it.
What’s really changed is this. The Sun no longer gets a built-in ride on the back of its competitor.
That’s not censorship. That’s accountability.
The RJ also raised concerns about the quality of the Sun’s content – which has always been reliably far-left, anti-Trump, and pro-Democrat.
It argued the Sun wasn’t holding up its end of the deal as a strong local newspaper. Instead of focusing on Las Vegas issues, it often filled space with outside content.
At one point, the Sun even ran campaigns discouraging people from subscribing to the Review-Journal. And under the agreement, the RJ still had to print and deliver it.
Think about that for a second.
Imagine running a business where you’re forced to promote someone telling customers not to buy from you.
That’s not competition. That’s a bad deal.
From a conservative standpoint, this comes down to something simple.
You shouldn’t be forced into a losing arrangement. Not by the government. Not by the courts. Not by a contract that was never valid to begin with.
Free markets mean standing on your own two feet. If the Sun believes in its product, it should compete. Earn readers. Attract advertisers. Deliver value.
Just like every other business in Nevada has to do – including us here at Nevada News & Vies.
The Review-Journal made it clear it’s ready to keep doing its job. Covering local news. Holding government accountable. Telling readers what’s happening in their community.
That’s what matters.
In the end, this isn’t about one paper versus another. It’s about fairness. It’s about the rule of law. And it’s about making sure no one gets a free ride forever.
The Sun isn’t gone. But now, it finally has to stand on its own.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
