Las Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is an independent daily newspaper published in Las Vegas, Nevada, founded on May 21, 1950, by Hank Greenspun and owned by the Greenspun family since its inception.[1]Known for its aggressive investigative journalism that has historically targeted influential figures and institutions—including U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, the Internal Revenue Service, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and casino owner Howard Hughes—the publication has positioned itself as an advocate for ordinary citizens against corruption and power imbalances.[1]
Under a joint operating agreement with the Las Vegas Review-Journal implemented in 2005, the Sun retains editorial independence while sharing production and distribution resources, allowing it to focus on in-depth reporting across print, online, and broadcast formats.[1]
The newspaper achieved its most prominent recognition in 2009 with the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, awarded for a series exposing preventable deaths and safety lapses among construction workers on the Las Vegas Strip, which prompted regulatory reforms and heightened industry accountability.[2][3]
Additional accolades include multiple Editor & Publisher awards for best news website (2008–2010) and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, marking it as the first print-based outlet to win in broadcast journalism excellence.[1]
Founding and Early Development
Establishment and Initial Operations (1949–1950s)
The Las Vegas Sun originated from a labor dispute at the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 1949, when the newspaper locked out members of the printing union, creating an opportunity for a rival publication. Herman "Hank" Greenspun, a World War II veteran and former lawyer who had relocated to Las Vegas in 1946, acquired the assets of the struggling Las Vegas Free Press, including its flatbed press and outstanding accounts, for a $1,000 down payment. This purchase laid the groundwork for the Sun's launch as an independent voice challenging the established Review-Journal.[1][4] The first edition of what would become the Sun was published on May 21, 1950, initially under the Free Press name, with Greenspun serving as editor and publisher. By July 1, 1950, the paper was renamed the Las Vegas Sun and shifted to morning publication, emphasizing local coverage of Las Vegas's burgeoning casino industry and civic developments. Early operations relied on Greenspun's personal investment and a small staff, producing content that included investigative pieces on corruption and urban growth amid the post-war boom, which saw the city's population rise from approximately 25,000 in 1950 to over 64,000 by 1960.[1][5] Throughout the 1950s, the Sun navigated financial constraints typical of startup newspapers, sustaining operations through advertising from local businesses despite boycotts by some casino operators opposed to Greenspun's editorials criticizing organized crime influences in Las Vegas gaming. The paper's initial circulation figures were modest, starting under 10,000 daily copies, but it gained traction by advocating for union rights and exposing political scandals, such as Senator Pat McCarran's influence, which led to advertising withdrawals from major resorts in 1952. Greenspun's combative style, including columns that targeted mob figures and McCarthy-era excesses, positioned the Sun as a crusading alternative, though it faced legal challenges and relied on Greenspun's real estate ventures for cross-subsidization.[6][7]Expansion and Key Milestones (1960s–1980s)
In the aftermath of a destructive fire on November 20, 1963, that gutted its offices at 900 S. Main Street, the Las Vegas Sun swiftly recovered operations by outsourcing printing to California facilities and airlifting completed editions to Las Vegas, maintaining uninterrupted publication even as it covered President John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22.[8][9] This adaptability underscored the paper's commitment to continuity amid the rapid urbanization of Las Vegas, where population growth demanded reliable local news coverage.[5] By 1965, the Sun had relocated to a new facility on South Highland Drive and installed advanced presses, enabling expanded production capacity and supporting increased circulation demands as the city evolved from a gambling hub into a broader entertainment and residential center.[5] These upgrades facilitated deeper investigative reporting under publisher Hank Greenspun, who leveraged the paper's platform to challenge local power structures, including casino interests and federal agencies.[4] The 1970s brought technological modernization, with the adoption of cold-type composition via a Pacesetter machine in October 1972, followed by the installation of seven computer terminals on February 19, 1976, which streamlined editing and layout processes.[5] Community-oriented initiatives also marked this era, such as the 1970 launch of the Sun Camp Fund to subsidize summer camps for low-income children, reflecting the paper's growing role in civic engagement. The publication of a 25th anniversary edition on August 30, 1975, highlighted its endurance and influence.[5] Into the 1980s, the Sun earned a Nevada Press Association award in 1982 for a series exposing Justice Department misconduct, affirming its journalistic rigor amid competition from the larger Las Vegas Review-Journal.[5] Greenspun's columns continued to drive readership by confronting issues like IRS overreach, offering subscribers legal assistance against tax disputes, which bolstered the paper's reputation for advocacy journalism until his death on July 22, 1989.[4] These developments positioned the Sun as a persistent alternative voice in Nevada's media landscape, even as it navigated financial pressures from industry shifts toward computerized production.[5]Ownership and Business Structure
Greenspun Family Control and Succession
The Las Vegas Sun has remained under the control of the Greenspun family since its acquisition by Herman "Hank" Greenspun in 1949, when he purchased the existing afternoon tabloid for $35,000 and transformed it into a prominent voice in Nevada journalism.[10] Hank Greenspun served as the newspaper's editor and publisher for four decades, overseeing its operations through periods of financial strain and editorial independence until his death from cancer on July 22, 1989, at age 79.[10] [11] Following Hank's death, his wife, Barbara Greenspun, who had co-founded the paper and provided crucial financial support as its "silent partner" for decades, assumed the role of publisher in 1989.[12] [13] Barbara continued in this capacity until her death on June 1, 2010, at age 88, maintaining family ownership through the Greenspun Corporation and later the Greenspun Media Group (GMG), which managed the Sun alongside other media and real estate assets.[14] [11] Their son, Brian Greenspun, had joined the family business earlier, serving as editor under his parents and gradually taking on executive responsibilities.[15] The family's control structure involved shared ownership among Hank and Barbara's four children—Brian, Daniel, Susan, and Jane—following Barbara's passing, with GMG holding the Sun as its flagship asset.[16] This arrangement faced challenges in 2013 when three siblings sought to terminate the Sun's joint operating agreement (JOA) with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a move Brian Greenspun contested in court, arguing it would jeopardize the paper's viability due to its reliance on JOA revenue for printing and distribution.[17] [18] The dispute resolved through a settlement on July 1, 2014, under which Brian Greenspun acquired sole ownership of the Las Vegas Sun and GMG, relinquishing claims to other family holdings in exchange, while dropping the lawsuit against his siblings.[19] [16] This consolidation ensured continued family stewardship under Brian, who serves as publisher, president, and CEO, preserving the Sun's operational independence amid declining print revenues.[20]Joint Operating Agreement with Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Review-Journal entered into a Joint Operating Agreement in 1989, which received approval from the U.S. Attorney General in 1990 under the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970.[21] This arrangement enabled the two papers—historically competitors, with the Sun as an evening publication and the Review-Journal as a morning one—to consolidate non-editorial operations including printing, advertising sales, circulation, and administrative functions, while preserving separate newsrooms and editorial content to maintain journalistic competition.[21] The JOA addressed the Sun's financial difficulties in the late 1980s by sharing revenues and costs, allowing it to continue operations amid declining afternoon newspaper viability.[22] In 2005, the parties amended the JOA to adapt to shifting market dynamics, with the Sun discontinuing its standalone afternoon edition and instead appearing as a 6-to-10-page insert within the Review-Journal's daily publication.[23] Under the amendment's terms, each newspaper assumed responsibility for its own editorial and reporting expenses, while the Review-Journal handled combined business operations and distributed profits to the Sun based on a predefined formula that allocated a significant share—reportedly up to 95% initially, tapering over time—to support the smaller paper.[22] The amended agreement extended through 2040, aiming to further reduce costs for the Sun, which had faced ongoing losses from separate production.[24] Tensions escalated after Sheldon Adelson acquired the Review-Journal in 2015, leading the paper to file in 2019 to terminate the JOA on state contract law grounds, arguing breach and mutual consent provisions amid disputes over profit-sharing and operational control.[24] The Sun countered with antitrust claims, asserting the Review-Journal's monopoly-like dominance post-acquisition. On August 4, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the 2005 amendment unenforceable, determining it constituted a substantive modification requiring U.S. Department of Justice approval—which was never sought or granted—thus violating federal antitrust regulations under the Newspaper Preservation Act.[25][26][21] The ruling preserved the original 1989 JOA's validity but invalidated post-2005 changes, potentially reverting profit and operational terms while litigation continues over termination and damages.[21]Editorial Approach and Content Focus
Political Orientation and Bias Assessments
The Las Vegas Sun is rated as having a left-leaning political orientation by multiple media bias assessment organizations. AllSides assigns it a "Lean Left" rating, indicating a moderate liberal bias in its news coverage and editorials, based on blind bias surveys, editorial reviews, and third-party data.[27] Media Bias/Fact Check classifies it as "Left-Center" biased, citing consistent endorsements of Democratic candidates in elections and a predominance of liberal-leaning opinion pieces, while noting high factual reporting due to proper sourcing and failed fact checks being rare.[28] Biasly rates it as "Somewhat Left" with good reliability, drawing from content analysis showing policy leanings toward progressive positions.[29]| Rater | Bias Rating | Key Factors Cited |
|---|---|---|
| AllSides | Lean Left | Editorial tone, story selection favoring liberal perspectives; community feedback as of October 2025.[27] |
| Media Bias/Fact Check | Left-Center | Democratic endorsements (e.g., 2020 and 2022 cycles), op-eds critiquing conservative policies; minimal factual errors.[28] |
| Biasly | Somewhat Left | Quantitative analysis of article sentiment and policy advocacy.[29] |