USA Today (trademarked as
USA TODAY in capitals) is a national
American daily
newspaper published by the
Gannett Company. It was founded by
Al Neuharth. The paper has the widest
circulation of any newspaper in the United States (averaging over 2.11 million
[1] copies every weekday), and among English-language
broadsheets, it comes second worldwide, behind only the 3.14 million daily paid copies of
The Times of India.[citation needed] USA Today is distributed in all
fifty states,
Canada, the
District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and
Guam. The newspaper has its headquarters in
Tysons Corner,
unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia.
[2]The concept of a colorful newspaper with national distribution was considered at the paper's launch to be a risk, and the paper received early criticism, receiving the derisive nickname "McPaper". However, the newspaper has striven to set itself apart in distribution methods as well. The paper is still sold in unique newspaper vending machines with curved edges that resemble television sets. USA Today was also eager to latch onto the business traveler and was heavily distributed through airlines, airports, and hotels in addition to other sales outlets. The newspaper was also among the first newspapers to use satellite transmissions to send the final edition of the newspaper to multiple locations across the country for printing and final distribution in those regional markets. The innovation of using satellites and regional printing hubs allowed the paper to push back deadlines and include the most recent news and sports scores in each edition.
In 2001, the newspaper moved into its new 30 acre (120,000&_160;m²) headquarters in Tysons Corner, Virginia, a Washington, D.C., suburb. Its original headquarters, the old USA Today and Gannett, Inc. "silver towers", are located in the neighborhood of Rosslyn and are a major landmark on the Washington skyline.
The newspaper's motto, appearing on the top and bottom levels, is The Nation's Newspaper - _1 in the USA.
