Las Vegas Review-Journal Ends Printing of Rival Las Vegas Sun

Decades-long joint operating agreement between the two newspapers comes to an end amid ongoing legal dispute.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:18pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life featuring a stack of newspapers in muted tones, symbolizing the decline of traditional print media.The end of a joint operating agreement between two Las Vegas newspapers signals the ongoing challenges facing the local news industry.Las Vegas Today

The Las Vegas Review-Journal announced on Friday that it will no longer print its rival newspaper, the Las Vegas Sun, marking the end of a decades-long joint operating agreement between the two publications. The move comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over the nation's last remaining joint operating agreement, which was established in 1970 to help preserve newspapers facing financial struggles.

Why it matters

The end of the joint operating agreement between the Review-Journal and the Sun raises concerns about the future of local news diversity and competition in the Las Vegas market. The 1970 Newspaper Preservation Act that enabled the agreement was designed to maintain editorial independence and variety, but as news options have proliferated, the rationale for such agreements has diminished.

The details

Under the joint operating agreement, the Sun was printed as a daily insert in the Review-Journal, with both papers maintaining separate newsrooms and editorial independence. The Review-Journal has now decided to halt the printing of the Sun, citing the recent Supreme Court decision that found the 2005 update to the agreement was never signed by the U.S. Attorney General, rendering it unenforceable. The Sun's owners have filed a lawsuit alleging that ending the agreement violates antitrust laws, and they are seeking a court order to immediately resume printing.

  • The Review-Journal announced the end of the joint printing agreement on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The two newspapers will be in court on Friday, April 3, 2026, with the Sun hoping a judge will order printing to resume immediately.

The players

Las Vegas Review-Journal

The largest newspaper in Nevada, owned by the Adelson family, casino magnates and major Republican donors. The Review-Journal's editorials lean more conservative.

Las Vegas Sun

A rival newspaper to the Review-Journal, founded in 1950 in response to the Review-Journal's refusal to negotiate with typesetters from the International Typographical Union. The Sun's editorials lean more liberal, and it is still owned by the Greenspun family.

Leif Reid

An attorney representing the Las Vegas Sun.

Ken Doctor

A news business analyst who has commented on the decline of joint operating agreements between newspapers.

Stephen Bates

A journalism and media professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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What they’re saying

“This does irreparable harm to our community, as no one benefits when a local newspaper is prevented from being published.”

— Leif Reid, Attorney, Las Vegas Sun

“Every local news outlet we lose — and that includes big towns, small towns, whatever — is a loss of perspective and a loss of a potential alternative view.”

— Genelle Belmas, Journalism Professor, University of Kansas

What’s next

The two newspapers will be in court on Friday, April 3, 2026, with the Sun hoping a judge will order the Review-Journal to immediately resume printing the Sun as a daily insert.

The takeaway

The end of the joint operating agreement between the Review-Journal and the Sun highlights the ongoing challenges facing local news outlets, as the rationale for such agreements has diminished in an era of increased digital competition. The loss of the Sun's print product could make it harder to recruit staff and retain readers, potentially threatening the future of this alternative voice in the Las Vegas media landscape.