Las Vegas gains major printing contract as Arizona Republic shifts operations from Phoenix

Review-Journal facility to handle production for state’s largest newspaper starting October

Las Vegas will become the printing hub for Arizona’s largest newspaper when The Arizona Republic moves its production operations from Phoenix to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s facility this fall, marking another significant consolidation in the newspaper industry.

The transition, announced Tuesday by Gannett Co., will result in 117 layoffs at The Republic’s Deer Valley printing plant in north Phoenix when the final copies roll off those presses October 5. Beginning October 6, the newspaper will be printed in Las Vegas and transported by truck to Phoenix and other Arizona markets.

Review-Journal expands regional printing role

The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s printing facility will add The Arizona Republic to its existing production responsibilities, which already include printing the Las Vegas Sun through a joint operating agreement. The facility’s modern presses and strategic location make it an attractive option for regional newspaper consolidation.

The move positions Las Vegas as an increasingly important printing center for major Western newspapers. In addition to The Republic, three other Gannett publications currently printed in Phoenix—the Desert Sun (Palm Springs), Ventura County Star, and Victorville Daily Press—will shift to a facility in Riverside, California.

Industry experts note that Las Vegas’s central location between major Western markets and its established distribution networks make it a logical choice for consolidated printing operations.

Part of broader industry consolidation

The Arizona Republic’s move reflects a nationwide trend of newspaper companies shuttering local printing plants to reduce costs. Gannett, the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, has accelerated facility closures in 2025:

• Detroit Free Press announced its Sterling Heights plant closure in January, affecting 115 employees
• Columbia Daily Tribune in Missouri will move printing to Des Moines in September
• Multiple Michigan community papers stopped print editions entirely

“Where our newspaper is printed does not impact our ability to deliver outstanding journalism,” said Lark-Marie Antón, Gannett’s chief communications officer, in a statement that has become standard messaging during such transitions.

Impact on operations and delivery

The 300-mile distance between Las Vegas and Phoenix will necessitate earlier deadlines for news content and advertising to accommodate printing and transportation time. While Gannett maintains delivery times won’t be significantly affected, the logistics of trucking newspapers across state lines adds complexity to the distribution process.

The Review-Journal’s experience handling multiple publications positions it well for the additional workload. The facility uses modern Goss presses capable of handling high-volume production runs efficiently.

Economic implications for Las Vegas

The printing contract represents a significant win for Las Vegas’s commercial printing sector, bringing additional jobs and revenue to the Review-Journal’s operations. While specific financial terms weren’t disclosed, such contracts typically involve multi-year commitments worth millions of dollars.

The consolidation also highlights Las Vegas’s growing role as a regional business services hub, extending beyond tourism and gaming into sectors like logistics, distribution, and now expanded printing operations.

Phoenix facility’s uncertain future

Gannett sold the 300,000-square-foot Deer Valley printing plant for $38 million in August 2023 to a partnership between Scottsdale-based Atlas Capital Partners and New York’s DRA Advisors. The investors cited the property’s proximity to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s new Phoenix facility as adding to its appeal for potential redevelopment.

A skeleton crew will remain temporarily to decommission the massive printing presses and prepare the facility for its next use. The fate of the specialized printing equipment remains undetermined.

Looking ahead

For Republic readers, the change will be largely invisible aside from potentially earlier cutoff times for late-breaking news and sports scores. Digital subscribers at azcentral.com won’t be affected, as online operations will continue unchanged.

The move underscores the ongoing transformation of the newspaper industry, where printing—once the heart of newspaper operations—has become an outsourced service as publishers focus increasingly on digital content delivery.

For Las Vegas, the expanded printing operations at the Review-Journal represent another diversification of the local economy, adding to the city’s growing portfolio of business services that extend well beyond the famous Strip.

Image Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/arizona-republic-printing-moves-las-233032087.html

Category: Business
Subcategory: Media & Publishing
Date: 07/23/2025