Sunday, August 25, 2013

OLD DOG, NEW LOOK: 'USA TODAY' Soars High with Digital Innovation

Media companies from all over the world establishing their own online domain has become an ingenious strategy, and trend, towards technological evolution—and USA TODAY has been a part of it for more than a decade.




For 31 years, USA TODAY has been one of the pioneers of the industry of traditional print media in the Unites States of America and has known to have acquired a number of achievements for its journalism excellence and competency—owned by Gannett Co. Inc. Today, USA TODAY still remains alive albeit the fast changing trends in media and technology in society—engaging into the world of vast proportions, and keeping up with the current vogue.

As a news print institution, bringing news stories online is not something USA TODAY needs further familiarization with, because it has stood with its domain for a solid 18 years now. It was in the 17th of April, 1995, that this particular traditional print media launched its official online website for the whole world to access, and has consistently gone forth until today—the USATODAY.com.


USATODAY.com is a website that was established for the sharing of news information to the people all over the globe. It also allows interactive participation from the readers—provides comment boxes for readers who want to comment, share, and talk to other readers about their views on a particular story, since one of the website's main purposes is the unity of USA citizens.

While browsing through their website, I found out that USATODAY.com also moderates websites for separate topics. One of which is USA TODAY Sports Media Group, formulated in October 2011. It includes news and links on their coverage of many sporting events, through a network of professional sports photographers and sports media channels and platforms. Another feature of the website is the USA TODAY Travel Media Group, formed in November of 2011, for on-the-go travelers. This Travel Group includes links on various travelling websites that contain various featured articles about travel planning and information on destinations. Other than what was mentioned, the website also has a commitment in giving students relevant and motivating studies for their education, also providing educators and administrators academic materials for the students. These added features are perhaps three of the many purposes of this website.

In the year 2012, the USA TODAY’s evolution strategy gave way to rebranding, timed with their 30th anniversary. The makeover included the traditional print, the official logo, and the digital design. The remodeling of the USATODAY.com was in partnership with one of the industry’s most acclaimed global agencies in UX, and is responsible for the visual and responsive design of the website, Fi (Fantasy Interactive).

As of June 2013, USATODAY.com had nearly 24.3 million unique visitors and 281 million page views according to comScore, Inc.—making it rank at number 16 in the Top News Sites of 2013 of Alexa.com.

Through the years, USATODAY.com has remained consistent with its primary goals in bringing the latest national, global, sports, money, life, weather, technology, and travel news—all updated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And with it completely transforming into a new face, it gives readers and subscribers a whole new comprehensive sight to, well, site.


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Note: This feature news article is for academic purposes only.

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