Washoe County Selectively Recognizes Media Outlets

Picon didn’t cover cold lunches? We’re fairly certain we did.

Commissioner Mike Clark forwarded us a Daily Media Report from January 30, 2025, regarding the restoration of hot meals to local seniors, and we found something concerning. While the news itself was positive - seniors finally receiving warm meals after a 14-day interruption due to unexplained "permitting issues" with the temporary kitchen - we noticed a glaring omission.

Despite Picon's extensive coverage of this situation, including detailed reporting on seniors receiving cold sandwiches and later cold salads, our outlet was conspicuously absent from the Daily Media Report. This exclusion comes despite our constant coverage compared to mentioned outlets like RGJ, Channel 8, Channel 4, 2 News, and Fox 11.

This selective recognition raises questions. While the county does communicate with our reporter Virginia Hally and includes us on press release distributions, our absence from the Daily Media Report suggests a concerning pattern of picking and choosing which media outlets they consider legitimate.

Are we being overlooked because we represent a new form of journalism that won't simply accept the county's preferred narrative? We've maintained our commitment to fair reporting, even when the county challenged us last week. While we were included in the press release distribution list about the return of hot meals, our exclusion from the Daily Media Report sends a clear message about how the county views independent journalism.

This selective recognition won't change our commitment to holding the county accountable, but it does highlight concerning questions about their relationship with the press.