How an Upstart Influenced the Industry

Friday I attended the American University Forum celebrating USA Today’s 25th anniversary: “How an Upstart Influenced the Industry.” The panelists, editors David Colton, Richard Curtis, Robert Robinson and Kinsey Wilson, lauded USA Today for being an innovative populist publication that pioneered vivid color graphics and micro articles while spotlighting pop culture and sports.

In a television and internet age that demands instant gratification, buyers expect to be entertained and informed--fast. As the nation’s top selling newspaper with an average circulation of 2.3 million and a daily readership of 4.4 million readers, this type of journalistic approach is in the best interest to Gannett Corporation’s bottom line. I wondered, however, if its heavy emphasis on entertainment and sports is in the best interest of the American people.

As David Colton explained, “Journalism is built on trust.” But can we trust USA Today to inform us about world events in a significant manner, or is it merely feeding America's endless fascination with pop culture to sell newspapers? It is my hope that journalists recognize their responsibility to frame the public agenda, advocate for the truth and act as the fourth estate to inform the public in a substantive way. It is insulting to our intelligence that football and scandalous pop stars are given the same priority as the ongoing war in Iraq.

While I respect USA Today for revolutionizing a structural design to news delivery, the forum only reinforced my frustration that American media is doing a poor job of informing the public on vital matters. To earn my "trust" as a publication, USA Today must put a higher premium on the audience's needs over their perceived wants. That's all I could think of as the USA Today editors patted themselves on the back.

Photo Source: http://www.wydmedia.com/