A national daily general interest newspaper founded in 1982. The first such national publication to achieve success, USA Today’s stylish innovations—including colorful graphics and short stories—have since been widely imitated by other newspapers.
USA Today’s terse reporting often drew criticism from rival editors for its lack of depth. Its “journalism of hope” tended to highlight positive aspects of stories.
News-USA Today
USA Today is the flagship newspaper of Gannett, an American media company. Launched in 1982 by Allen Neuharth, the paper quickly grew to become the first national general-interest daily newspaper, offering a combination of domestic and international news stories that other newspapers could not match. Its innovative format was a model for other papers, with color graphics and short stories.
USA TODAY’s political coverage generally leans left. In a 2021 Blind Bias survey, people who self-reported as being on the Left rated USA TODAY as firmly Lean Left and those who self-reported as being on the Right rated it as slightly Center. The newspaper’s Fact Check section also has a slight left-leaning bias, with more attention given to viral social media posts and unfounded theories than to opposing points of view.
The paper also frequently commits viewpoint bias by only interviewing those who are in favor of a particular position. For example, in a story about the Texas abortion law, USA TODAY only interviewed four people who were against it, including spokespersons from Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.
Sports
USA Today has a long tradition of sports journalism and has won multiple awards for its coverage of various professional and amateur sports. It is also known for its avoidance of political editorials. However, in the past few years, it has begun to take a more active stance on social and political issues, such as its calls for stricter gun laws following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and its criticism of the Republican Party for the 2013 government shutdown and 2015 revolts in the United States House of Representatives.
In addition to the standard News section, USA Today features a special Sports section. The main page of the Sports section features a “Newsline” column, which contains brief description of headline stories on the inside pages (sometimes referred to as a “reefer”). The left-hand side of the front page also offers “Snapshots” graphs, which offer statistics on lifestyle interests according to the section (for example, a television page in Life might have a graphic depicting the popularity of different types of TV shows).
A subscription to USA Today Sports Weekly Magazine will bring you thorough coverage of baseball in the major leagues, football in the NFL and basketball in the NBA. It includes full reports, statistics and behind-the-scenes stories on the latest professional sports teams and players. It’s a great gift for any sports fan.
Money
USA Today’s founder, Al Neuharth, gambled on an untested premise when he launched the newspaper in 1982: Americans were ready for a national publication that could serve as a second read to their local paper. The gamble paid off, with USA Today selling millions of copies each day and establishing a reputation for solid journalism.
USA Today is well known for its compact news stories that pack a punch in an easy-to-read format. Its most distinctive feature is the “Across the USA” page, which features paragraph-length Associated Press summaries of headlines in every state and territory.
USA Today has taken a more active stand on political issues in recent years, calling for stronger gun laws and criticizing the Republican Party’s role in the 2013 government shutdown and 2015 congressional revolts. But its staff has been battered by repeated rounds of cost-cutting and reorganization under parent company Gannett Co., which has been struggling with debt since its 2019 buyout of GateHouse Media. A former journalist at the newspaper said staffers were always on edge, expecting a new round of cuts.
Entertainment
USA Today offers a variety of entertainment coverage, including movies and television. It also features a crossword, QuickCross, and Sudoku (tablet only). The newspaper’s entertainment section is popular among readers. In addition, readers can listen to their favorite USA TODAY NETWORK podcasts on the go.
While the newspaper avoids political editorials, it does comment on some issues. For example, it supported increased gun control after the Sandy Hook shooting and strongly criticized the Republican Party for its 2013 government shutdown and 2015 revolts in the House of Representatives that ended with John Boehner’s resignation as speaker.
The newspaper has a large Life section, which features TV and media reviews and listings and a DVD column. It also includes a travel supplement called Destinations and Diversions. The paper’s television page is similar to that of local newspapers but lacks any national or regional schedules. Ad Fontes Media rates USA Today as Middle in terms of bias and Reliable in terms of analysis/fact reporting. It is the flagship publication of the Gannett Co., Inc., which has won 96 Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other journalism awards.
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