(Updated.) Gannett's flagship once hoped to beat The International Herald Tribune in grabbing well-heeled American travelers overseas, and the ad dollars that often follow. But that idea has died for good, tipsters say, now that USA Today is pulling the plug on its money-losing foreign editions. The European one dies Jan. 30; I don't know about any other foreign titles.Not so fast, writes Anonymous@7:05 p.m.: "Shuttering international? No. There are three editions: two daily and one weekly. The two daily editions are being combined into one."
International's heavily-discounted circulation tumbled to just 48,000 copies, the most recent Audit Bureau of Circulations report says; of those, 34,000 were sold for less than 20% of the cover price.
The Euro edition is produced from USAT's main office at McLean, Va., and from Gannett's London office in upscale Bloomsbury; it houses maybe 25 employees, including staff from PointRoll and other businesses. It stays open for a few remaining employees, including new USA Today bureau chief Paul Wiseman. He's transferring from the recently closed Hong Kong office.
The International Herald Tribune has never been an advertising or an economic success. It is published as a prestigue paper for expats in Europe, and so has a cachet for well-heeled jet-setters. USAT was reaching out for that audience in the most wasteful way. It didn't need an incredibly expensive office in Bloomsbury for example.
ReplyDeleteAt last, Corporate is doing something about all the money being poured into USAT on things that look good, but aren't really needed. This economic crunch is showing clearly that the community papers can no longer support this lavish, wasteful and spendthrift paper.
ReplyDeleteTruly sad news, but I suppose I'm biased.
ReplyDelete73s,
John M. Simpson
Former Deputy Editor
USA Today.
Why didn't they shut down this international edition before laying people off in December? Maybe a few jobs could have been saved.
ReplyDeleteFurloughs, salary freezes and killing international... Why the heck am I sitting here laid off? Why didn't usat do these cost-saving things BEFORE getting rid of jobs, many of which were still needed and being executed by competent people? Do the people who laid us off understand that the horrible conditions in which they threw us out onto the streets? Several jobs could have been saved! Instead, the unemployment lines get longer and longer.
ReplyDeleteThe person who keeps repeating that community newspapers support USA Today is totally ignorant of reality.
ReplyDelete"The person who keeps repeating that community newspapers support USA Today is totally ignorant of reality."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right. But I know they did support USAT significantly in earlier years -- everything from supplying revenue to keep the corporate bottom line attractive to Wall St. (while USAT bled), to providing virtually-free staff members, to printing regional editions at less-than-cost "reibursement."
5:14. For years, USAT buried its costs in the community newspapers, from staffers taken away and sent to Washington to live in the stay-free minipads in Arlington, next to USAT headquarters. Also, the community papers provided the printing facilities that USAT lacked, and still lacks. So the community papers provided the staff, and they provided the printing facilities. Then how is it totally ignorant of reality to say that USAT depends on the support of the community papers? It would not exist without the community papers.
ReplyDeleteShuttering international? No. There are three editions: two daily and one weekly. The two daily editions are being combined into one.
ReplyDeleteIt is ignorant because USAT pays the papers to print. In some cases those papers like one FL paper over-charged. Others that charge to much have been closed. Most are printed at non-Gannett sites. As far as community contributions, that ended nearly 20 years ago. If you think otherwise you are only fooling yourselves and those gullible enough to listen to your senseless drivel.
ReplyDelete8:52. I supposed you have the checks to show the transactions where USAT pays the community papers for publishing? If you don't have the checks, I will take a citation in the annual report or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If you don't have these proofs, then you are just spinning b.s. or are some troll trying to start a flame war. Since you seem ignorant of how USAT operates, I rather think it is the latter case.
ReplyDeleteFinally, some voices backing me up: USAT does not get subsidized by community papers. And be careful what you wish for: Some Gannett papers have found that as soon as they're not printing USAT, corporate closes down their press.
ReplyDeleteTO 10:16: I don't need to prove anything to you; believe what you want. I'd be silly to reveal who I am just as I'm sure you feel the same way. But I do know the facts and have been around long enough.
ReplyDeleteTo 11:11: You are welcome and thanks for your support. I like your little add-on comment about presses closing which is spot on.
I tire of those community newspaper employees (who seriously do work so hard) trashing the USAT workers (who also work hard). We all work hard and no one has a cake walk with perhaps the exception of those that make A LOT more money. If you want to pick apart management go for it but don't pick apart each other.
7:08 Great bluff. Believe me because I know, but I am not going to tell you who I am. So what about my challenge to provide one sheet of paper, one comment in the annual report, or one document that shows USAT is self-sufficient without the community papers? USAT has been a drain on the community papers from the start, and with its lavish salaries and perks, remains so. I also know what I am talking about, and I can provide editors and reporters who lived in those stay-free minipads, so believe me.
ReplyDeletep.s. I meant to add I also can provide pressmen who are paid by Army Times, the Freep and other papers, who will tell you they are printing USAT on their presses. When they work OT, their checks are paid by Army Times and the Freep, etc. I also can provide evidence that circulation at these various community newspaper facilities are providing delivery services for USAT.
ReplyDelete12:19/12:23: Of course they are paid by their respective papers. Do you not understand what a contract is? That's how USAT pays other entities when in a contractural relationship. They also pay non-Gannett papers for home delivery distribution in some areas just like other papers are beginning to pay USAT for their single copy distribution. It;s called business.
ReplyDeleteAnd why don't you prove something? You are just talk and BS.
All those editors - along with others - lived in Rosslyn during the early days before USAT was profitable. 20 years ago.
I can show my evidence, but you have yet to show me any to back up your contention. I do not believe you can because the costs of printing and distributing USAT are carried by the newspapers where they are printed. Yours is the old Goebbels technique of the Big Lie -- just keep on repeating what you know is false until it is believed.
ReplyDelete8:32: you can't show me anything because you don't have anything. Show me yours and I'll show you mine. You know you are full of crap and now can't back it up. You started it, you back it up first.
ReplyDelete