The RN&R would not exist if it weren’t for the efforts of Larry Henry, Mike Norris and Bill Martin, three journalists who decided back in 1993 that it was time for Reno to have a newspaper alternative to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
They formed the Nevada Newspaper Project, Inc, and November 1993, the Nevada Weekly was born. The three founders soon learned, however, that starting up a newspaper can be tough—and 15 months later, the paper was acquired by Chico Community Publishing, the owners of the Chico News & Review and Sacramento News & Review. With that, the Nevada Weekly became the Reno News & Review, and Chico Community Publishing was an excellent steward of the RN&R until my company took it over in January 2022.
Late last week, I learned from a social media post by Larry Henry that Bill Martin had died. Thirty-one years ago this week, the sale of this publication was announced in the pages of Nevada Weekly, and Bill was quoted:
An agreement has been reached for the sale of the 15-month-old Nevada Weekly to the owners of the Sacramento News & Review.
The agreement is between the Nevada Newspaper Project, Inc., which publishes Nevada Weekly, and Chico Community Publishing, which publishes News & Review newsweeklies in Sacramento and Chico.
“We are very happy that the News & Review will be involved,” said Bill Martin, president of the Nevada Newspaper Project. “It’s good news for our readers, advertisers and the Reno/Tahoe area. The News & Review has proven its willingness to commit the resources needed to build on the foundation created since Nevada Weekly started publishing in November 1993. We look forward to continued growth under News & Review leadership.”
Jeff vonKaenel, publisher of the News & Review, said he would make changes in the Reno-based weekly newspaper to improve content and circulation.
“This community deserves a quality, reader-oriented alternative weekly newspaper,” vonKaenel said. “We will continue Nevada Weekly’s commitment to the kind of journalism that makes a difference in people’s lives.”
Under vonKaenel’s leadership since 1979, the Chico News & Review has grown to a circulation of 40,000. The Sacramento News & Review, which he founded in 1988, has a circulation of 85,000. It has been selected as the state’s best weekly by the California Newspaper Publishers Association. The change in ownership is effective immediately.
Bill Martin, 79, passed away on Jan. 15 at his home in Jonestown, Texas. Here’s Bill’s obituary. An excerpt:
Born on January 4, 1947, in Burley, ID, Bill lived with his parents and sister in various cities and towns throughout Northern and Central California. In 1966, Bill graduated from McLane High School in Fresno, California, and later earned a degree in Journalism from Fresno State University. His distinguished career began as a reporter and correspondent for the Associated Press in Carson City, Reno, and San Francisco. Later, he served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt and managed several successful political campaigns in Northern Nevada. Bill, with his friends, founded and managed the Nevada Weekly/Reno News and Review newspaper. Later, he established a successful public relations firm, Bill Martin Public Relations and was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Sierra Nevada Chapter Hall of Fame. He also taught Public Relations courses at the University of Nevada for a while.
After moving to Texas, Bill also served for six years as a speechwriter for the Texas Attorney General in Austin. In 2006, he left to become the Director of Communications for Children at Heart Ministries in Round Rock, retiring in 2013.
Because he had a passion for history, Bill was a lifetime member of the Oregon-California Trails Association, where he first served as editor of “News From the Plains” and then as a Board Member, Vice President, and eventually President for the Organization.
Most important to him, Bill was a dedicated Christian and an active member of First Baptist Church of Georgetown. He oversaw the Prayer List and was the opening speaker for Lifegroup each Sunday morning. In a servant capacity, he participated in missionary trips to Alaska and Mexico.
If you value the RN&R in any way, raise a toast Bill Martin—or follow the recommendation in his obituary, and make a donation in his name to the Oregon-California Trails Association or the American Cancer Society.
Our sympathies go to Diane, Bill’s wife of 25 years, as well as his children, grandchildren and other loved ones.
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