A condensed version of an AP story (3/23/11) about USA Today‘s new business plan:
The nation’s second-largest newspaper is expanding its coverage of advertising-friendly topics, designing content for smartphones and tablet computers and refreshing the look of its print edition, whose circulation has fallen by 20 percent over the past three years….
For readers, it means lots of travel tips, gadget reviews, sports features, financial advice and lifestyle recommendations. Top editors say investigative journalism will also be emphasized….
Even as it publishes more stories aimed at attracting advertisers, USA Today is promising to produce more hard-hitting coverage from an expanded team of investigative reporters. The investigative unit now consists of nine reporters and editors compared with more than 30 people devoted to entertainment coverage.
For more on thereality of ad-friendly journalism, read Janine Jackson’s “Fear and Favor” report in the March issue of Extra!.
As far as I’m concerned, USA Today is still the McPaper and will always be the McPaper. The news, dumbed down for ADD-addled readers. I can’t imagine why anyone would bother to read it.
Nuttin reads better on da terlit