- Is it true? And would this mean the nation's largest-circulation paper would have no full-time staff reporters in Europe?
- Will USA Today accompany Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her first foreign trip -- Feb. 15, to Asia?
Friday, February 06, 2009
USAT foreign news coverage said trimmed again
I hear USA Today is now moving its reporter from the shuttered Hong Kong bureau to the newspaper's main office in McLean, Va. -- reversing a decision to transfer him to the London bureau. Questions:
7 comments:
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Why does USAT need reporters in London when GCI owns a whole chain of newspapers under the Newsquest umbrella there? This would not be the first time USAT has itself had no foreign bureaus. I believe it was not until 1995 that USAT established overseas presence, when its finances enabled it to do so.
ReplyDelete8:35 pm: Because USAT historically delivered an American perspective on foreign news. With Newsquest journalists, you'd get a British perspective.
ReplyDeleteBritish perspective? American perspective? Give me the global perspective with the facts and I'll be happy.
ReplyDelete8:36, it's naive to think there is anything such as a "global perspective." We're not all one big happy world with the same agenda and concerns. For example, there may be stories on how Obama administration economic policies are playing out in the UK that would be of no interest to a European reader, but would be of great interest to people in the United States.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the days when USAT was robust enough to support a handful of offices around the globe are over. Unfortunately, the paper joins a growing list of newspapers that are gutting foreign coverage (see the Baltimore Sun & Chgo Trib for other examples). At a time when newspapers could do more to explain how what's happening in other countries affects us here at home we are getting more BS chicken dinner news, how-to boxes and the latest on Ashely Simpson's weight
9:31 AM
ReplyDeleteYou know, I remember back when my dad used to say pretty much the same things you're saying, but about the auto industry. He'd tell me it took an American to design and make a car for Americans, because nobody else could do it right. He told me nobody else would understand.
Well, I bought a Mazda anyway because I wanted quality.
When I want quality news these days, I turn to some of the non-US based publications that have American sections.
It's called USA TODAY for a reason. Who needs someone in England to cover Asia? Don't we have Gannett reporters already in England? Why do we even need an international edition; it's never made any money?
ReplyDeleteAnd what's this crap about an American perspective on foreign news? Who cares?
The recent presidential election, Wall Street meltdown, bailouts and glimpses into life in New York City and rural areas are anything but foreign to me. I get all that and more, complete with great graphics, background boxes--- on the oh so very user friendly Guardian.
ReplyDeleteIt's news I get. I'd hardly call it content. I get my content (mainly just obits) fluff from the Gannett publications.
Give the Guardian a try, 8:15 PM. If you're a reporter, you might pick up some tips. If you're a webbie, you might be amazed at how intuitive the site is. (I can't find anything on USAT anymore except obtrusive ads.)