![]() The sections were simply too expensive, another editor told me, compared to the revenue they generated. That move by itself constitutes a significant print cutback, wiping away distribution of hundreds of thousands of copies. ![]() The effort, code-named Project Butterfly, had been been highly touted as a reinvestment in print when it began in 2013. ![]() This spring at larger circulation regionals, Gannett quietly dropped a standalone section of USA Today news at its 35 largest papers. Those stand at 561,000, the company has said in its most recent earnings report, after a slow start.Īnd the company claims a monthly unique audience of 127 million for all of its sites. On the business side, the 109 regional paper sites, which draw on USA Today for national content, are beginning to build the number of paid digital subscriptions. “He said ‘middle-of-the-road is not a strategy.’” (That could apply either to both-sides-of-the-matter reporting and opinion pieces, or to a mainstream mid-market position.) “He has indicated that he is not impressed with USA Today,” a source familiar with the meetings told me. We’re (still) going to have to radically transform.”īascobert, while silent publicly, has been highly visible and proactive in internal meetings with Gannett execs and visits to the largest of its 109 regional papers. But even before the merger came together, the same editor said that Gannett had moved to going all in for digital: “Let’s face reality. “Digital transformation” has been often promised and rarely delivered many times over at Gannett - and at other chains. “It ran for an hour and a quarter,” the editor said, “and not once was there a single mention of print.” One Gannett editor, speaking on background, told me that new CEO Paul Bascobert streamed an all-hands meeting to regional papers on the day that his hiring and the deal agreement were simultaneously announced. (The text of that announcement is at the end of this story.)Īlready set in motion are moves to try membership opportunities and marketing add-ons to boost revenue. ![]() Thursday to dispute the findings of this article and answer questions. Gannett and USA Today leaders have called a staff meeting for 11:30 a.m. We believe the combination of our two companies will transform the landscape in the print and digital news business and, following the close of the transaction, we look forward to delivering on the compelling benefits for audiences, customers, employees and shareholders.” Gannett remains committed to high-quality journalism for the communities we serve and our ongoing digital transformation, and we are pleased to have found a like-minded partner in New Media. “Gannett has no plans to discontinue the print edition of USA TODAY, which remains an important part of our business. Maribel Perez Wadsworth, USA Today publisher, commented via email: It makes a lot of sense, given the print edition’s deteriorating paid circulation and minimal advertising. Winding print down could take several years.īut two knowledgeable sources, talking on background, said a move away from USA Today in print is part of the calculations for the new enterprise. Nothing much will happen - or legally can happen - until then, and don’t look for this to be the new company’s first order of business. The deal for GateHouse’s parent, New Media Investment Group, to acquire Gannett, which owns USA Today, will not close for at least another month. After a nearly 40-year run, USA Today and its digital sites are about to undergo a major restructuring that will include building up digital marketing while phasing out the print edition.
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