Las Vegas Review-Journal Owners Outline ‘Three Principles’

A few weeks ago, The New York Times made waves with a Dec. 5 front-page op-ed calling for more U.S. gun control. Today, out West, there is another front-page newspaper pronouncement, but in this case, on the heels of editor Mike Hengel’s acceptance of a buyout offer, it is a “Note to Readers” from the new ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The note outlines the three principles by which the new owners plan to guide their $140 million acquisition. Sheldon Adelson’s group promises to make any new investments necessary, publish a paper that is fair, unbiased and accurate, and act as a stewards of an “essential community institution.” From the A1 note:

These are the three principles that will guide our ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. How will this all work over the coming weeks and months? The professionals at New Media, who are now managing the R-J as well as running more than 125 other daily newspapers nationwide, will continue to oversee all operations. Mike Hengel, the paper’s current editor, accepted a voluntary buyout offer from the R-J’s prior owners, an offer that was also made to other qualified employees. Other R-J employees also accepted the voluntary buyout offer from the previous owners. The New Media managers will appoint an interim editor and will immediately begin a search for the next permanent Review-Journal editor.

We are confident that the best days for the Review-Journal, Southern Nevada and the entire state are yet to come, and we feel privileged to be able to continue to play a role in our great community.

In the wake of Hengel’s announcement to the newsroom Wednesday that he had accepted the buyout offer, colleagues took to Twitter to pay tribute.

Have known @MHengel for years. Class act, solid journalist. Will be scooped up by a reputable news org not afraid to tell truth to power.

— Steve Tetreault (@STetreaultDC) December 23, 2015

@RindelsAP @mhengel @NAHJNevada This is sad news. He was a great editor during my internship there.

— Yvette Cruz (@YvyCruz) December 23, 2015

A tip of the press hat to Review-Journal editor @MHengel, who just announced he’s accepting a voluntary buyout and will depart soon …

— Carol Cling (@CarolSCling) December 23, 2015

Mike Hengel leaves the R-J with his integrity intact. He supported me in my controversial columns and has shown his commitment to ethics.

— Jane Ann Morrison (@janeannmorrison) December 23, 2015

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