Sun’s Brian Greenspun ‘humbled’ by induction into Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 | 9:30 p.m.

Brian Greenspun, owner and publisher of the Greenspun Media Group, was inducted Saturday night into the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame, a tribute to his steadfast commitment to exemplary journalism.

The commendation noted that Greenspun this year launched a weekly publication, The Sunday, “that in this day and age may seem gutsy, but that’s Brian’s vision and style. He’s a news junkie and continues to invest in the newspaper business – while taking it in a new, smart direction.”

It was a good evening for Greenspun, whose parents, Hank and Barbara Greenspun, founded the flagship Las Vegas Sun in 1950. On Saturday, the Greenspun Media Group, which includes the Sun, The Sunday, Las Vegas Weekly, VEGAS INC (which is now merged with The Sunday) and Las Vegas Magazine, was again the most decorated media group in the state.

The Nevada Press Association honored GMG with 126 awards — including 54 first-place plaques — during a dinner banquet at the Aliante Casino-Hotel celebrating the 2014 Better Newspaper Contest.

Stephens Media Group, publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and five other publications, collected 81 awards.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our entire GMG team,” Greenspun said. “We strive all year to bring the most credible, insightful and relevant news and information to Southern Nevada readers, so to see our folks rewarded with so many awards for excellence in their craft is heartwarming and much appreciated.”

Greenspun said he was thrilled to be elected by the board of the Nevada Press Association to its hall of fame. “Four of the most important people in my life — Gov. Mike O’Callaghan, Ruthe Deskin and, of course, my parents, Barbara and Hank Greenspun — are Hall of Famers and I am humbled to be in their company.”

The commendation noted that Greenspun, a native Nevadan, had continued in his father’s spirit in writing the popular “Where I Stand” column “that heaps praise on those who deserve it, and directs scorn at those who need it. His parents instilled a hard-work ethic and a belief in giving back to the community with insightful, community-based journalism.

“He has invested in quality journalism, and that was demonstrated when the Sun won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service and was a Pulitzer finalist two years later.”

Also elected to the hall of fame was David Sanford, the late co-publisher of the family owned Mason Valley News, known as “the only newspaper that gives a damn about Yerington.” The paper and two sister newspapers – the Fernley Leader and the Dayton Courier – were sold to the Reno Gazette-Journal in 2000, and Sanford remained publisher of the weekly until 2013. Sanford died this year.

Among the sweepstakes and first-place awards presented Saturday night to Greenspun Media Group journalists, designers and artists:

Sweepstakes category

• Ad of the year, by Sean Rademacher, art director for creative services

• Photo of the year, showing soccer fans bloodied in a melee at Sam Boyd Stadium, by Sam Morris

Urban Dailies Category (Las Vegas Sun)

• Journalist of merit, for someone with less than 5 years experience: Jackie Valley “the obvious winner in this category (for her) powerful writing and reporting,” judges noted

• Best multimedia story: Jackie Valley and Leila Navidi for their stories, photos and videos for the series “Grace Through Grief: A Shattered Family Recovers”

• Best feature story: Ed Komenda’s profile of downtown developer and Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh

• Best editorial cartoon: Mike Smith, for “What does it take for a black man to be safe in this country?”

• Best nonstaff story: Erin Ryan’s story on canyoneering, a combination of hiking, down climbing, rappelling and problem solving

• Best business news story: Andrea Domanick’s examination of Las Vegas wedding businesses

• Best sports column: Ray Brewer’s works, including taking his son to his first UNLV basketball game, and reminding Brewer of his first Rebels game with his father

• Best Page One design: shared by the Sun’s design staff

• Best news photo coverage: Sam Morris, for the soccer melee at Sam Boyd Stadium

• Best sports photo: L.E. Baskow, for his photo of a rodeo cowboy being bucked by a horse and horned by a bull

Community category (VEGAS INC)

• Journalist of Merit: Ed Komenda, for “impressive work from a young journalist”

• Best feature story: Conor Shine, for his profile of Pat Mulroy, retiring as general manager of the Southern Nevada Water District

• Best nonstaff story: Brock Radke for his feature of the Morton family

• Best business news story: Ed Komenda, for his examination of a business built around zombies

• Best business feature: Ed Komenda, for his profile of a bail bondsman

• Best explanatory journalism: Andrew Doughman, for NV Energy making money getting out of the coal-fired power business

• Best news feature story: Andrew Doughman, for how a business organization resisted union tactics

• Best investigative or in-depth story or series: Eli Segall, for shining light on the business of incorporating businesses

• Best overall design: the design staff of VEGAS INC, for “sharp, clean, modern design carried throughout the publications, with lots of nice touches”

• Best feature photo: Leila Navidi for her photo “Say ‘Cheesecake’” showing the off-camera efforts to create a studio photo

• Best photo essay: Christopher DeVargas for his photos of a hatmaker

• Best portrait: L.E. Baskow, for a portrait of immigrant Anna Ledesma

• Best special section or advertising campaign: Rob Langrell, for the Giving Guide

• Best in-house promotion: Carlos Herrera for “40 under 40”

• Best website: VEGAS INC

Urban Weeklies (Las Vegas Weekly and The Sunday)

• Journalist of Merit: Mark Adams of the Weekly, “for his advancement into the web editor ranks to go with his enthusiastic, conversational, fun and observant writing”

• Community service: Jackie Valley of The Sunday for her examination of how pedestrian safety in Las Vegas can be improved

• Best feature story, and best explanatory journalism: Conor Shine, Andrea Domanick and Brad Kava of The Sunday for “The nation’s most endangered waterway,” a profile of the Colorado River

• Best headline writing: Dave Mondt

• Best local column: Joe Schoenmann, for his stories about downtown Las Vegas

• Best sports story: Ray Brewer, for his story in The Sunday about sportsmanship

• Best editorial writing: Matt Hufman, for The Sunday

• Best editorial page: The Sunday

• Best page designer: Corlene Byrd, for her work at the Weekly

• Best news photo coverage: L.E. Baskow, for his photos at a Jay-Z performance for the Weekly

• Best feature photo: Christopher DeVargas, for his behind-the-scenes picture of a performer-turned-robot for the Weekly

• Best multiple photo essay: L.E. Baskow for his candid photos in The Sunday of a family with eight children, including quintuplets

• Best portrait: By Adam Shane, for a portrait of businessman Ross Mollison for the Weekly

• Best illustrated photo: Corlene Byrd and L.E. Baskow for blending photos of old and modern-day Fremont Street

• Best sports photo: Sam Morris for the Weekly, of Anderson Silva screaming in pain after breaking his leg during the second round of his UFC welterweight title fight

• Best multicolor ad, and best in-house promotion: Sean Rademacher for the Food World Championships Welcoming Party published in the Weekly

• Advertising general excellence: the Weekly

Magazines (Las Vegas Magazine)

• Best entertainment writing: Kiko Miyasato, for stories on such far-flung topics as the Bellagio fountains and Chippendales

• Best Page One design: Wesley Gatbonton, Aaron Belandres, Dany Haniff and Erik Stein, for a collection of work

• Best page designer: Wesley Gatbonton, whose “great use of typography and images makes you want to read every word and absorb every picture”

• Best portrait: Christopher DeVargas for a portrait of an “Absinthe” performer

• Best illustrated photo: Christopher DeVargas, Wesley Gatbonton for children from the Boys & Girls Club mimicking performers on the Las Vegas Strip

• Advertising general excellence: Las Vegas Magazine

• Best special project: VEGAS2GO

Other winners in the sweepstakes categories include:

• Story of the year: John Przybys of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, for his profile of a brother and sister with spinal muscular atrophy

• Outstanding journalist: Las Vegas Review-Journal business writer Jennifer Robison

• Outstanding visual journalist: Las Vegas Review-Journal videographer Justin Yurkanin

• Editorial of the Year: Steve Ranson of the Lahontan Valley News