Online Journalism News

USA TODAY combines print and web teams

USA Today is the latest major news publisher to announce the convergence of its print and online news operations as it strives for a larger share of the on-demand news audience.

Staff that already collaborate on news, entertainment and travel content will be integrated first.

The aim of combining both news operations, according to management, is to plan content more strategically for a range of on-demand platforms rather than standalone news products.

"The goal in combining the two newsrooms is to create a single 24-hour news organisation that will inform and engage readers on multiple platforms," said USA TODAY editor Ken Paulson.

"Our goal is to begin conceiving and planning our coverage as one unit, thinking more strategically about the deployment of our newsgathering resources in a world in which news has become an on-demand commodity."

The site recorded 10.3 million unique users in October according to Nielsen NetRatings. According to Mediamark Research figures for Autumn 2005, the print edition had a daily readership of 5.2 million readers.

USA Today employs an editorial staff of 431.

• In August the New York Times announced its plans to combine its on and offline news teams to help 'raise its digital journalism to the next level'.

More news from journalism.co.uk:
NY Times strides towards an integrated future
Convergence in debate
Towards a multimedia future
Australian bill threatens to prevent convergence
Publishers remain wary of multimedia newsrooms
Summit to examine media convergence

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