A glimpse into the Arizona Republic's printing operations before the transition to Las Vegas.
The Arizona Republic is moving its printing operations from its Deer Valley facility in Phoenix to Las Vegas in October 2023. This transition will result in the layoff of 117 employees as part of a broader strategy to cut costs. The final prints from the Deer Valley facility are set to occur on October 5. Despite the changes, Gannett aims to uphold the quality of news coverage while merging operations with other publications for efficiency.
Phoenix, Arizona – The Arizona Republic will transition its printing operations to Las Vegas starting in October 2023, leading to the closure of its Deer Valley printing facility in north Phoenix. This change will result in the layoff of 117 employees and comes as part of a strategy to reduce operational costs through a joint-publishing arrangement.
The final prints from the Deer Valley facility are scheduled to roll off the presses on October 5, 2023. After this date, print editions of The Republic will be produced in Las Vegas and transported to metro Phoenix and other Arizona locations by truck. This shift is expected to necessitate earlier deadlines for news articles and advertising submissions but is not anticipated to significantly alter delivery times for print customers.
To support the affected employees, all full- and part-time production workers involved in printing and packaging at the Deer Valley facility will receive severance packages. Although the facility will close, a small number of employees will remain on-site to assist with equipment relocation and decommissioning of the printing presses.
As part of a broader effort to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, Gannett, the parent company of The Arizona Republic, also plans to move the printing of three additional publications—Palm Springs Desert Sun, Ventura County Star, and Victorville Daily Press—from Phoenix to Riverside, California. The Las Vegas Review-Journal will manage the printing, advertising, and distribution for The Republic.
Gannett communicated that while operational savings from this transition will be funneled into investments in journalism and growing business areas, these changes will not diminish the quality of news coverage provided. Key services including breaking news, updates, sports scores, and other content will continue to be available online via azcentral.com.
The Deer Valley printing plant, which measures 300,000 square feet and sits on 20 acres near 19th Avenue and Williams Drive, was sold for $38 million in August 2023. The sale occurred in conjunction with a lease agreement allowing Gannett to use the facility until the transition to Las Vegas is complete. The property was acquired by a partnership between Atlas Capital Partners and DRA Advisors, which deemed its size and location beneficial for future endeavors.
Earlier this year, a similar shift was announced by the Detroit Free Press, which also halted local printing operations to consolidate production at other facilities. Gannett has stated a commitment to further exploring opportunities for consolidating its printing operations moving forward.
As the printing operations evolve, employees, customers, and stakeholders in the media landscape will keep a close watch on how these changes affect the future of The Arizona Republic and its associated publications. The transition marks a significant milestone in adapting to the shifting dynamics of the newspaper industry.
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