They are usually generated by local newspapers and magazines, for whom a "Best of" issue gins up readership (and ad sales). The big one is the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s "Best of LV." According to R-J staffer Linda Burley, it garnered 168,000 votes the last time it was done. All votes are cast online and cyber ballot-box stuffing is prevented by recording all IP addresses and phone numbers used. Also, if a plethora of votes comes in from an improbable jurisdiction – say, Bangladesh – they’re tossed. Staffers who specialize in specific fields (gaming, entertainment, dining, etc.) also choose their own "bests," their efforts sometimes complemented by freelancers who also specialize. All reader votes are cast online or by using Android and Apple applications, as well as SMS text messaging.
There aren’t as many "Best of" polls as you might imagine, certainly fewer since certain publications have downsized or – in the case of Las Vegas CityLife -- been eliminated altogether. Las Vegas Weekly is in the middle of its "Best" polling as of this writing but did not respond to multiple phone calls and e-mails. Umpteen phone calls also failed to produce a response from Casino Player magazine, which also hands out "Best" accolades.
KNPR-FM’s Desert Companion does an annual "Best of" issue in which all the selections are written by staff members and regular freelancers. Thus, the categories can run the gamut from the mainstream ("Best headliner") to the quirky ("Best condiment"), reflecting the offbeat sensibility of Editor Andrew Kiraly. Vegas Seven is an interesting case. Although it dabbled with a reader ballot some time back, it has switched to a format whereby all the "bests" are chosen by staffers. Says LVA’s Anthony Curtis, "we consider the staff-generated ones to actually be the best [because] the staffers tend to be in the field investigating all the time and have access to expert input in a given area."
