What I found (details, below) was a USAT that was especially thin in page count, and in paid advertisements. Not counting small classified-size ads individually, the entire paper had only 14 paid spots. Just as alarming, the eight-page main A section in the nation's No. 1 print newspaper had but two ads.
Let me repeat: Only. Two. Ads.
The audit
I counted pages and advertisements. I did not include what appeared to be house ads. I did, however, count even the smallest, classified-like display ads as individual paid spots. Here's what I found:
A section, eight pages, two ads: Hotels.com, La Quinta.
Money, six pages, 16 ads: Sprint, Wells Fargo, Auction Showcase (2), Highland Springs Ranch, Marketplace Today (11).
Sports, eight pages, one ad: ESPN.
Life, six pages, six ads: Daily Spotlight, Twelve Books, Marketplace Today (1), Ryan Seacrest, Air Supply Music, Universal Music.
[Image: Newseum]
Hello? HELLO, Dave Hunke?
ReplyDeleteHello? HELLO, Marketing Department?
ReplyDeleteDavid Hunke is busy bullshitting Mr. Dubow and Ms. Martore about how great the new "paid" iPad application will be and how they will have 100's of thousands of paid monthly subscribers!!! Coming this July!!!
ReplyDeleteBtw, Jim, have you (or your readers) noticed that since the USAT iPhone app was released OVER A YEAR AGO, it has NOT been updated even once!!!! It either says that Gannett has no budget for mobile, or that they have very few subscribers who are willing to demand more from a free app.
This goes to show you that this company does not know how to innovate and spend money to build for the future. There are iPhone apps that are constantly updated weekly (CNN, NYTimes, ESPN).
So, imagine a USAT iPAd application that they actually charge for, but never update with better content and a better user experience!
The guy in charge of USAT's mobile initiative is Matt Jones. From what I have heard, the people on the USCP side think he is just another USAT/Corporate suit that is just towing the party line.
Seems like I've gotten at least one update on my USAT app, however.
ReplyDeleteForget ads ... today's USAT A1 clearly breaks Big Al's page-design rule of getting the tits above the fold. Seriously - talk about a boring design with a lackluster headline! It wouldn't compel me to buy it in the box.
ReplyDeleteMatt Jones is anything but a corporate suit. One of the good guys. The problem is not within Tower Two...
ReplyDeleteWhat's the minimum size for a four-section USAT? 16 pages (4/4/4/4)? 20 at 6/4/6/4?
ReplyDelete5:47, that argument went out with high-button shoes and your last original thought, which must have been some time ago.
ReplyDeleteThe headline for your life would be the truly lackluster one.
Hunke! Lay off the scotch and start selling baby. Time to grow up and act your age..well not really. Stop acting like a washed up newspaper man with the Chivas.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:10...so true. This guy is a massive bullshitter and loves his highballs.
ReplyDeleteI think Hunke, Webber and Lavington are all experts at bullshitting the corporate folks like Martore and Dubow. Almost every time Hunke has a meeting on the other side of the building here in Mclean, he comes back saying "I won them over once again" or "The good news is that they do not know what we do over here, the bad news is that they do not know what we do over here!" Or the best one yet is "I have Martore wrapped around my one finger, while Dubow is on so many drugs he has no idea how many fingers I have..."
ReplyDeletePiece of work.
1:39 pm: I'm not convinced you've actually heard Hunke say that, but I understand your point.
ReplyDelete