Las Vegas CityLife
Encyclopedia
Las Vegas CityLife, founded in August 1996, is the oldest alternative weekly newspaper in Southern Nevada
and covers news about the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding areas. Coverage includes news, politics, arts, and culture reporting in print and online formats. The publication is owned by Stephens Media Group but was formerly owned by Wick Communications
. Its primary competitors are Las Vegas Weekly
(founded in 1998) and Vegas Seven (founded in 2010).
Its managing editor, Scott Dickensheets, took the position in February 2011 after then-editor Steve Sebelius returned to the Las Vegas Review-Journal
as a political columnist. Former managing editors include Larry Lane, Bill Hughes, Geoff Schumacher
, Hugh Jackson
, Matthew O'Brien
, Andrew Kiraly, and Steve Sebelius. Former writers include Pj Perez
and Heidi Walters. Current writers include: Amy Kingsley, Chip Mosher, George Knapp
, and Mike Prevatt. Syndicated columns include Savage Love
and Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny
. Also, from 2004 through 2007, true crime
author and freelance journalist Cathy Scott
wrote a column for the weekly titled "Crime & Punishment." O'Brien expanded a feature article he wrote in CityLife, about killer TJ Weber who hid out in the storm tunnels before his arrest, into the book Beneath the Neon.
In September 2006, CityLife earned more awards than the other weekly newspapers in the state in the Nevada Press Association
's annual Better Newspapers Contest. The NPA has 60 member publications of which 40 are weeklies.
. On August 1, 1996, the name was changed to Las Vegas CityLife to avoid legal conflicts with another publication, the Phoenix New Times
. Rod Smith published the paper from August of 1998 to January 2002.
Over the course of the newspaper's history, two large Las Vegas casino corporations, the MGM and Station Casinos
, pulled their advertising because of news stories about their properties and managers which the businesses felt were condemnatory. Rod Smith, the publisher at the time, called the actions of the MGM, in particular, "petty private censorship."
In March of 2004, Portland-based designer Kat Topaz redesigned the CityLife logo and layout to give the publication an updated feel. The current design is the work of Maureen Adamo.
The offices of CityLife are currently housed alongside the Las Vegas Review-Journal
building, at 1111 W. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89106. Formerly, the paper was located on Pama Lane in Green Valley, Henderson
, and before that, on Wynn Road near Chinatown, Las Vegas
.
, and 7-11.
Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada is the region of Nevada which includes the Las Vegas Valley. Southern Nevada also includes the areas in and around Goldfield, Hawthorne, Pahrump, and Pioche. Geographically, Southern Nevada is partly, and in some cases, fully within the Mojave Desert. The population of the...
and covers news about the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding areas. Coverage includes news, politics, arts, and culture reporting in print and online formats. The publication is owned by Stephens Media Group but was formerly owned by Wick Communications
Wick Communications
Wick Communications is a family-owned community news company with 28 newspapers and 18 specialty publications in 12 states. The home offices are in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and it has newspapers in Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, California, North Carolina, North Dakota,...
. Its primary competitors are Las Vegas Weekly
Las Vegas Weekly
Las Vegas Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Henderson, Nevada, covering Las Vegas arts, entertainment, culture and news. Las Vegas Weekly is published by Greenspun Media Group. The paper was founded in 1992 by James Reza as a free monthly publication called Scope covering...
(founded in 1998) and Vegas Seven (founded in 2010).
Its managing editor, Scott Dickensheets, took the position in February 2011 after then-editor Steve Sebelius returned to the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
as a political columnist. Former managing editors include Larry Lane, Bill Hughes, Geoff Schumacher
Geoff Schumacher
Geoff Schumacher is a journalist and author who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is the author of two books focusing on the history of Las Vegas.-Early life:...
, Hugh Jackson
Hugh Jackson
Hugh Jackson may refer to:*Hugh Jackson , member of the Twentieth Texas Legislature*Hugh Jackson , older brother of American President Andrew Jackson, died during the Battle of Stono Ferry...
, Matthew O'Brien
Matthew O'Brien
Matthew "Matt" O'Brien is an American author and journalist who's lived in Las Vegas since 1997.- Career :O'Brien, who grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, graduated in 1988 from Decatur High School, where he was a point guard on the basketball team, and from the University of West Georgia in 1995...
, Andrew Kiraly, and Steve Sebelius. Former writers include Pj Perez
Pj Perez
Pj Perez is an American editor, writer and musician, best known for his reports and commentary on Las Vegas culture in such publications as Rolling Stone...
and Heidi Walters. Current writers include: Amy Kingsley, Chip Mosher, George Knapp
George Knapp
George Knapp is the name of:*Georg Friedrich Knapp , German economist*George Knapp , American journalist*George Knapp , British Member of Parliament for Abingdon, banker and grocer...
, and Mike Prevatt. Syndicated columns include Savage Love
Savage Love
Savage Love is a syndicated sex-advice column by Dan Savage. The column appears weekly in several dozen newspapers, mainly free newspapers in the US and Canada, but also newspapers in Europe and Asia...
and Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny is an American astrologer, writer, poet, and musician. His weekly horoscope column Free Will Astrology , has been published for more than 28 years, runs in 120 periodicals, and can be subscribed to for free via email.- Career :Brezsny is the first well-known horoscope columnist...
. Also, from 2004 through 2007, true crime
True crime
True crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
author and freelance journalist Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott is an American true crime writer and investigative journalist, born and raised in San Diego, United States growing up in nearby La Mesa, California...
wrote a column for the weekly titled "Crime & Punishment." O'Brien expanded a feature article he wrote in CityLife, about killer TJ Weber who hid out in the storm tunnels before his arrest, into the book Beneath the Neon.
In September 2006, CityLife earned more awards than the other weekly newspapers in the state in the Nevada Press Association
Nevada Press Association
The Nevada Press Association is the formal member trade organization for news publications in the state of Nevada. It is a voluntary non-profit organization that represents seven daily and thirty-five weekly news publications in Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region of Northern California, as well as...
's annual Better Newspapers Contest. The NPA has 60 member publications of which 40 are weeklies.
History
The precursor to CityLife was a publication called the Las Vegas New Times. Started in September of 1992, Las Vegas New Times was quickly sold to Wick CommunicationsWick Communications
Wick Communications is a family-owned community news company with 28 newspapers and 18 specialty publications in 12 states. The home offices are in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and it has newspapers in Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, California, North Carolina, North Dakota,...
. On August 1, 1996, the name was changed to Las Vegas CityLife to avoid legal conflicts with another publication, the Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
. Rod Smith published the paper from August of 1998 to January 2002.
Over the course of the newspaper's history, two large Las Vegas casino corporations, the MGM and Station Casinos
Station Casinos
Station Casinos Inc. is a gaming company based in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin, Nevada, founded by Frank Fertitta Jr.Station Casinos along with Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Herbst Gaming, dominate the Locals market in Las Vegas.The...
, pulled their advertising because of news stories about their properties and managers which the businesses felt were condemnatory. Rod Smith, the publisher at the time, called the actions of the MGM, in particular, "petty private censorship."
In March of 2004, Portland-based designer Kat Topaz redesigned the CityLife logo and layout to give the publication an updated feel. The current design is the work of Maureen Adamo.
The offices of CityLife are currently housed alongside the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
building, at 1111 W. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89106. Formerly, the paper was located on Pama Lane in Green Valley, Henderson
Green Valley, Henderson
Green Valley is a neighborhood of Henderson, Nevada. The Green Valley Master Community development was founded in 1978 by American Nevada Corporation in an area of on the southeast part of the Las Vegas Valley...
, and before that, on Wynn Road near Chinatown, Las Vegas
Chinatown, Las Vegas
The Chinatown of Las Vegas, Nevada The Chinatown of Las Vegas, Nevada The Chinatown of Las Vegas, Nevada (Chinese: 拉斯維加斯中國城 (pinyin: Lāsīwéijiāsī Zhōngguóchéng) is a series of large strip malls with ethnic Chinese and other pan-Asian businesses on Spring Mountain Road, with the original called...
.
Recurring Features
Recurring features in CityLife include:- "CityLife Picks," top event listings for the week
- "Best of the Valley," a yearly listing of readers' top choices for favorite restaurants and other venues in various categories
- "On The Scene," a short feature about a top clubbing or event pick for the week
- "Fear and Lounging," a weekly music performance pick
- "Dining Out," a weekly restaurant pick
Publication Information
Las Vegas CityLife is free to the public and goes to press every Wednesday for publication and distribution citywide on Thursdays. As of September of 2011, circulation was 70,000 copies per week at more than 2,200 sites, including UNLV, Barnes and Noble, Terrible HerbstTerrible Herbst
Terrible Herbst, or Terrible Herbst Oil Company, is a privately held gas station company based in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The company operates gas stations in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona.-History:...
, and 7-11.