USA TODAY Celebrates 25th Anniversary

USA TODAY Celebrates 25th Anniversary

September 10, 2007

Story Summary:

    USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper, will
celebrate its 25th anniversary on September 15, 2007.
Founded in 1982 as the first national newspaper, it was the
most expensive and closely watched newspaper debut in
history. 25 years later it is the nation's top selling
newspaper.

    (Media: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200709101625.wmv )
    (Photo: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200709101622.jpg )
    (Media: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200709101627.wmv )
    (Photo: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200709101624.jpg )

    The first issue of USA TODAY ran off a printer in
Springfield, Va., on Sept. 15, 1982. The initial print run
of more than 360,000 issues immediately sold out in the
Washington D.C. metropolitan area. At the time, USA TODAY
was like no other newspaper. It was bright and colorful,
using images and graphics to illustrate its stories; it was
sold in newsracks designed to look like television sets;
editors insisted that reporters use tight and concise
writing. At the time it was famously called
"McPaper" and derided as fast-food journalism.

    Today, "the nation's newspaper" is considered
a leader in the industry and its circulation continues to
rise, against the current trend of the news industry. It
has a circulation of 2.3 million with a daily readership of
4.4 million; it is published via satellite at 36 locations
in the USA and four sites abroad; and its website,
USATODAY.com, is an award-winning news site, almost 11
million visitors a month. USATODAY.com offers blogs,
podcasts and incorporates audio and video into its
coverage. USA TODAY has also launched a book division and
is publishing two related books timed to the anniversary:
"25 Years of USA TODAY: The Stories That Shape Our
Nation" and a reissue of "The Making of McPaper:
The Inside Story of How USA TODAY Made It" by Peter S.
Prichard and David Colton.

Soundbites
Ken Paulson, Editor of USA Today
Craig Moon, President and Publisher of USA TODAY
Allen H. Neuharth, Founder of USA TODAY, Former Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Gannett Co., Inc.
B-Roll Includes
Printing plates being set
Presses running
Staff working together
Papers being bundled
Men reading paper
USA TODAY Cover Images

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