After spending the first six months of the year kicking cancer, now that I’m back I’m frequently asked what’s going on at the R-J? My answer seems a bit surprising to most. The second time the Las Vegas Review-Journal was sold last year was my first week of medical leave. Six and a half months later I returned to a completely new company.
As I describe how the company has changed, it may come across as a love letter to the organization that pays my salary — and held my position for nearly seven months. Bear with me, though. As most of you know, because you follow the news, the original announcement about the sale in December played out in shock waves across the country‘s news media outlets. It is only over time that readers of the R-J’s many publications will be able to judge for themselves if speculation was true or if balanced reporting and community involvement will be their experience.
Inside, the organization what has changed most is culture. The R-J’s president and publisher, Craig Moon and the management team he put in place inherited what I can best describe as a battered family. The R-J is one of the largest non-gaming employers in the state, employing close to 500 people. After weathering a recession, then the company being prepared for sale twice in one year, fear of losing your job or your friends losing their jobs had taken its toll. When your job is threatened, so are your basic necessities for living. I’m not a philosopher; however, it seems that what has happened over the past several years at the R-J is a classic example of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Maslow’s philosophy: When physical and safety needs are met in a nurturing environment, people are energized and realize their greater potentials. That’s the culture Moon is fostering.
His first steps internally were improved employee benefits and investment in much-needed infrastructure maintenance for our aging building.
If you haven’t already, you’ll soon see this new culture of engagement manifesting in the revitalization of the R-J’s many publications and events. Best of Las Vegas is one of those brands under the R-J and is celebrating 35 years. The team decided to launch this year with a new look and expanded categories. Voting began Aug. 31 and will run through Oct. 12 at BestOfLasVegas.com. Winners will be announced at a gala event Nov. 5.
As you have probably noticed, with a new editor at the helm, the Las Vegas Business Press has undertaken a few improvements as well. In all our reader discussion panels, we learned that you want to know more about local business people. So we’ve added a new C-Suite feature in the place of our previous Snapshot page. This is a look at the person and their personal motivations, not just their business.
We’ve renamed Snapshot to Industry Q&A and moved this valuable content further forward in the publication. We’ve learned that hearing from local industry leaders about their business is important to your business. You’ll be seeing more of this in upcoming Industry Q&A features.
Along with current business news, we’ll continue to publish our local “Experts Corner” columns and have added some “Best Practices” columns to help you and your staff better manage and grow your businesses.
Page 4, as you have probably noticed is now reserved for the Business Press staff columns and a look ahead at our upcoming lists, industry focus topics, special publications and events.
I do look forward to seeing you at our next event on Sept. 8 (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) at the RX Boiler Room inside Mandalay Place. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with legal industry leaders, other top local professionals and the Business Press editorial team. RSVP at BusinessPress.Vegas/connect. Your $20 registration fee will go to support Clark County Law Foundation’s youth court program.
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Please feel free to contact me or Business Press editor Lyn Collier and let us know what’s on your mind. We always value your feedback.
