USA Today is a daily general-interest newspaper that is circulated across America. It first hit newsstands on a limited basis in 1982; the paper did not go national until the following year. Its success changed the face of the newspaper business, altering both the way newspapers look and the scope and content of news stories and features.

Initially, the format of USA Today, published by the Gannett Company, was mocked by media critics and the newspaper industry. Its articles were considered too short and general in nature, with in-depth reporting kept to a minimum; furthermore, celebrity pieces and "upbeat" coverage took precedence over hard news. For example, the first issue of USA Today headlined the death of Princess Grace of Monaco, the former motion-picture star Grace Kelly (1928–1982). The assassination of Lebanese president-elect Bashir Gemayel (1947–1982) was noted in a single paragraph on the front page; the coverage of...