Nevada’s Top News Outlets Shaping the Nevada’s Politics

Nevada’s media environment for political coverage is relatively small, with only a handful of outlets across various mediums dedicating specific resources to state politics.

The standout in terms of reach is the Las Vegas Review-Journal (LVRJ), the state’s largest daily newspaper and news-website. Owned by the Adelson family since 2015, it continues to publish a daily print edition in Las Vegas and attracts roughly four million unique monthly digital visitors, dominating coverage of politics, gaming, and local issues.

Following closely is KLAS-TV (8 News Now), Las Vegas’ top-rated CBS affiliate and Nevada’s oldest television station. Reaching nearly a million Southern Nevada households, it consistently leads local newscasts in the key 25-54 demographic. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, 8 News Now delivers breaking political coverage, legislative reporting, and election-night authority through broadcast, streaming, and web, making it a prominent political news source for the region’s residents.

In Northern Nevada, the Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ) is the leading newspaper and news-website. Owned by Gannett, it publishes a daily print edition with roughly 50,000 circulation and draws about a million monthly digital visitors. The RGJ is the primary coverage source for Washoe County, City of Reno, and City of Sparks politics.

In terms of relevance to statewide political coverage, The Nevada Independent (NVIndy) is arguably the top specialized political media outlet in Nevada. Launched in 2017 by veteran journalist Jon Ralston and Elizabeth Thompson, this nonprofit newsroom has become Nevada’s top source for political reporting. It reaches more than 350,000 highly engaged monthly website visitors and newsletter subscribers, excelling in in-depth statewide policy analysis. Content partnerships with the Associated Press and public radio further extend its reach across the state. Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren are the two NVIndy reporters everyone in the Legislative Building currently follows.

Rounding out the key players is Nevada Public Radio’s KNPR, the state’s NPR member station since 1980. Its seven-station network reaches up to 2.7 million Nevadans, with more than 100,000 weekly streams, podcast downloads, and engagements. The daily “State of Nevada” program delivers discussions on policy, history, and culture, making KNPR a noteable outlet for statewide political coverage.

Among these five prominent political news outlets, the LVRJ leans right-center, 8 News Now sits at center, while the RGJ, NVIndy, and KNPR tilt left.

Nevada’s most prominent individual journalists currently covering state politics include Jon Ralston of the NVIndy, widely seen as the state’s most popular political analyst with a left-leaning. anti-Trump lens delivered via columns and on-air news reports; Sam Shad, host of the long-running nonpartisan Nevada Newsmakers on PBS Reno; and Ray Hagar of the RGJ, a veteran voice with a Northern Nevada focus who appears on broadcasts and co-hosts a podcast.

Nevada’s most prominent on-air personalities include Joe Hart, a veteran news anchor and reporter at KRNV News 4 in Reno known for his “Ask Joe” investigative segments that hold officials accountable on elections, government, and public issues; Ben Margiott, a political reporter and anchor at KRNV News 4 who hosts the weekly Ballot Battleground podcast, featuring interviews with officials and activists on elections and policy; and Lucia Starbuck, a political reporter at KUNR Public Radio in Reno who hosts the monthly Purple Politics Nevada podcast and series, diving into legislative sessions, elections, and voter concerns.

Other key figures include Dana Gentry, an award-winning investigative reporter focusing on legislative accountability; Amber Dixon, host of Vegas PBS’s Nevada Week, a weekly roundtable on policy debates; David Charns, an investigative reporter at KLAS-TV covering Capitol affairs and elections; Paul Boger, KNPR’s northern Nevada producer and former KUNR Capitol Bureau Chief delivering legislative reports; and Bert Johnson, a Reno-based KNPR reporter specializing in elections and community impacts.

Other noteworthy digital news organizations that focus primarily or exclusively on Nevada politics include the nevadacurrent.com, thenevadaglobe.com, lasvegassun.com, nevadaappeal.com, carsonnow.org, thisisreno.com, piconpress.com and this site nevadapoliticaljournal.com.

These outlets, ranging from established print newspapers to digital-first platforms, constitute the core of Nevada's political media landscape. They provide comprehensive coverage of state politics through a mix of traditional and online channels. As the 2026 election cycle approaches, these sources deliver reporting on campaigns, legislation, and key issues across the state.