Congratulations to USA Today on your 30th anniversary. Over the past three decades, several hundred daily newspapers have ceased publication. In many cities and states, USA Today has stepped up to fill the void.
How fortunate that we live in one of the few remaining free societies with a wealth of information sources available. Most American cities and suburbs are down to one local daily paper. Newspapers and magazines have to deal with increasing costs for newsprint, delivery and distribution, along with reduced advertising revenues and declining readership due to competition from the Internet and other new information sources.
Many daily newspapers can no longer afford assigning reporters to cover news from our nation’s capital and abroad. They now rely on wire services stories. USA Today is one of the few remaining daily newspapers to provide more in depth coverage of national and international events than most daily papers.
In the marketplace of ideas, let us hope there continues to be room for everyone, including USA Today. You have truly become “America’s daily newspaper.”
Larry Penner
