USA Today reportedly will celebrate its long-awaited redesign online and in print with a Sept. 13 party in Washington featuring luminaries from politics and sports -- subjects Publisher Larry Kramer has said he wants to dial up as he seeks to bolster the flagging daily's fortunes.
Titled "My USA 30 Years From Today," the event will feature conversations with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus; Democratic Mayor Cory Booker, of Newark, N.J., and U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun, plus unidentified Olympic swimming and soccer gold medalists, according to Politico's report.
Corporate announced plans for a website redesign of USAT as well as the community newspapers' sites in summer 2011, with USAT first out of the gate. The new look has been tied to the paper's 30th anniversary, which is Sept. 15 -- a Saturday, unfortunately, when the paper doesn't print. In any case, the "30 Years From Today" theme suggests that USAT is spinning its anniversary forward, rather than backward.
The relaunch and anniversary celebrations gained new momentum in March when Kramer was named publisher. He arrived as advertising revenue continued to drop in double-digit percentages, with plans already well underway to focus especially on sports as a new revenue source. Since taking the job, Kramer also has said he wants to emphasize other subjects, including politics -- but from beyond the D.C. beltway.
The Sept. 13 party, as described by Politico, would create a more substantive tone to the anniversary events -- especially the inclusion of Priebus and Booker, deep into the general elections. (As opposed to, for example, inviting the Kardashians, which would remind too many people in Washington about the paper's early news-lite years.)
The party at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum is set for the Thursday night before the new digital versions debut, according to Politico, which reported the party details late this afternoon. The launch date has been public for some time.
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Corporate announced plans for a website redesign of USAT as well as the community newspapers' sites in summer 2011, with USAT first out of the gate. The new look has been tied to the paper's 30th anniversary, which is Sept. 15 -- a Saturday, unfortunately, when the paper doesn't print. In any case, the "30 Years From Today" theme suggests that USAT is spinning its anniversary forward, rather than backward.
The relaunch and anniversary celebrations gained new momentum in March when Kramer was named publisher. He arrived as advertising revenue continued to drop in double-digit percentages, with plans already well underway to focus especially on sports as a new revenue source. Since taking the job, Kramer also has said he wants to emphasize other subjects, including politics -- but from beyond the D.C. beltway.
The Sept. 13 party, as described by Politico, would create a more substantive tone to the anniversary events -- especially the inclusion of Priebus and Booker, deep into the general elections. (As opposed to, for example, inviting the Kardashians, which would remind too many people in Washington about the paper's early news-lite years.)
Larry will need to house clean editorial management and staff of dead weight and non performers who have poisoned the Crystal Palace to succeed. Get the chainsaw out Lar. It's the only way.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be nothing more than USA Today throwing money back at the U.S. Olympics dinner of days gone by before Moon cut that out of the budget, too (once he returned from the games). What's next? Olympians coming back to Gannett to tack their medals on the wall.
ReplyDeleteThat's it? Maryam Banikarim's year of planning meetings and high-priced consultants/friends for usat's 30 year unveiling turns out to be panelists of B minus level politicans? Shameful. Who moderates this time? Al Neuharth?
ReplyDeleteI hope we get our invitation soon so we can hear chairman David L. Hunke's speech.
ReplyDeleteBanikarim had a year to get this together, but half assediit until she realized, too late, that she actually going to have to put some time in for Gannett. No one respects her.
ReplyDeleteAfter the party is over, it back to me, me,me Maryam.
When is Martore going to wake up?
Larry Kramer will be making some stops with national media to talk about the anniversary too.
ReplyDeletethe Tips
Maybe with all the hoopla we'll get .30 an hour raises to celebrate, but probably not.
ReplyDeleteDoubtful. Larry wants to hire big stars. Unless there's a salary dump of useless managers (heather frank, hillkirk, most of money, news, etc.) your 30 cent raise will be only a nickel.
ReplyDeleteusa today sport on the ball as usual. Anyone see Wednesday's paper. They have the entire Dallas Cowboys roster at 112 years old. Is there no quality control?
ReplyDeletebeusse, readers care about the little things, not your huge ego.
9:23. You can add digital managers to that list, and about 10 vice presidents of nothing. Susie Ellwood, too.
ReplyDeleteKARDASHIANS
ReplyDeleteAt least I can turn off the TV and they are gone.
Booker's crew? Remember The Beatles' "Taxman?" Can't turn that off. They've gotten $20 trillion over 40 years -- what's the result?
Yeah, yeah -- math is mean. Cry me a river.
Jesus H.....what a waste of money.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before: this 30th anniversary will expose Banikarim, Micek and the rest for all the nothing they've been doing over the last 15 months. It will land with a collective thud.
ReplyDeleteYou have to folks who dump in a celebration that hasn't happened yet and they aren't attending. Only on the blog.
ReplyDeleteHave to live folks....
ReplyDeleteLove....damn iPhone
ReplyDelete2:37,
ReplyDeleteLet's just say previous experience doesn't bode well for optimism.
"Corporate announced plans for a redesign of USAT as well as the community newspapers in summer 2011, with USAT first out of the gate."
ReplyDeleteErr, no, not first. Wilmington has redesigned twice since then - once earlier, then a second tweak when the design studio took over.
6:16 I'm referring to a simultaneous redesign and relaunch of the websites and other digital editions of the community papers.
ReplyDeleteThe print editions are being redesigned on different, more individual schedules.
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