Nevada Press Association Explained

The Nevada Press Association brings together newspapers, magazines, and online
news outlets from across the state. Its members include daily and weekly publications,
from large newsrooms to papers serving smaller communities. The association gives
them a shared voice on issues that affect how they report the news.
Much of its work takes place when state lawmakers consider new legislation. The
association advocates for access to government records, meetings that the public can
attend, and notices that tell residents about government business. These rules affect
what reporters can learn and what they can share with readers.
They matter to people outside newsrooms, too. A resident may want to look at the
documents behind a county decision or attend a city council meeting before a vote. A
public notice may be how someone first learns about a proposed action. The
association’s goal is to keep that information within reach, so Nevadans can follow what
their governments are doing.
The organization has a long history in the state. Nevada newspapers first joined
together in 1865, and a reorganization in 1924 established the Nevada State Press
Association. Today, its work centers on legislation and public policy. Brian Allfrey serves
as executive director. The association is governed by a board of directors representing
news outlets across the state.
The similarly named Nevada Press Foundation has a different role, although Allfrey
leads it as well. The foundation is a charitable organization that runs the annual
journalism awards, convention, and Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame. It took over those
programs in 2021, while the association focused its work on policy affecting news
publications and public access to information.
The foundation began in 2000 with financial support from the Donald W. Reynolds
Foundation and newspapers belonging to the association. Its first major undertaking
was restoring Carson City’s historic Rinckel Mansion, which provided space for the
association, the Hall of Fame, and reporters covering state government. Today, a board
of trustees oversees the foundation, and its Awards of Excellence contest draws about
1,400 entries from Nevada publications each year.