USA Today: Not Just for Sixth Graders
Written: Jul 18 '06 (Updated Jul 18 '06)
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Pros: Entertaining, national news
Cons: Not that in-depth or thought provoking
The Bottom Line: Get the New York Times or Wall St. Journal if you want to look smart, get the USA Today if you don't care if you look smart (or not)!
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| BeastieGirl's Full Review: USA Today |
If you know me at all, you will know that I am a traveling fool. In less than a year, I have logged over 100,000 airlines miles and have over 75 hotel stays. So what does all this have to do with a newspaper? Well, quite a lot, actually.
Half of the time when I wake up in the morning, I have to think for a second where I am. Sometimes it’s a different city, but it could very well be another state, or even country. The one constant that I have with me on the road is the USA Today. No matter where I am or what hotel I am staying at, I can be relatively sure that there will be a USA Today right outside my door- it’s a somewhat comforting feeling, as you can imagine.
You may be asking yourself, "Why do hotels carry the USA Today anyway?" I suspect there are a couple of reasons I shall explain:
First of all, an old professor of mine once explained to me the many different reading levels of newspapers. Well, it turns out that USA Today reads at about a sixth grade level. Most of the articles are simple and easy to understand- no words that need to be looked up in the dictionary, no stories that make you feel like you’ve been living under a rock and where have you been if you haven’t heard the latest news? While the level of writing may be offensive to some (as though it may be insulting to your intelligence), in no way will USA Today alienate those who just want to read about what is going on in the world.
The other reason for USA Today’s mass appeal is that it covers the entire country, without any bias toward certain regions. If you live on the east coast and are traveling to the west, you won’t find yourself out of the loop reading about local current events (not that there is anything wrong with that). I always find it difficult to catch up quickly on local news when traveling to different places all the time. At least with the USA Today I can get an idea of what is happening on both global and local news.
When I lived in France, I was able to follow some of the major news breaking stories and goings on in the States, but for simpler news, such as new movie and music releases, pro and college sports scores, as well as certain political happenings, I turned to the USA Today. There is also a page in the front section of the paper that lists out newsmakers for all 50 states. It may not always be vital news, but it helps me flight slightly more connected to home- a good sense for any traveler! I even get a healthy dose of gossip in the Life section, which also includes television listings, movie reviews and travel/destination information. If you are traveling abroad, the USA Today isn’t a bad way to catch a glimpse of current American life and news (in that order).
On the back of the front section is a national weather map that also displays highs and lows for various other foreign cities. This is a great source for travelers, especially those flying through different parts of the country.
If Pop Culture isn’t your thing, perhaps the Money or Sports sections will peak your interest. Again, there is less of a focus on specific regions of the country, rather an overview of all that is going on nationally, which is the premise of the entire newspaper- to keep you informed and up to date of national issues. I am also quite entertained by some of the stories and quick polls they usually have on the side columns of the paper.
Of course, for more in depth stories, coverage, and perhaps a bit more intellectual stimulation, I would suggest reading the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, but for me, I’m perfectly happy reading my USA Today over a bad cup of hotel coffee as I stress out about my hair getting caught in the small hotel hair dryer. Taken with a grain of salt, the USA Today isn’t half bad. You get what you pay for and so far, I haven’t paid for a single issue (newsstand price is $0.75). I’m not above reading it in a hotel restaurant or on the airplane. You’ll find me reading it anywhere I need some light reading without putting forth a whole lot of effort. You could also find me reading US Weekly- the two periodicals are quite similar, actually. It’s pretty much the newspaper version of trashy magazines. I’ll admit it, and I’ll admit that I do read it, if for nothing else, sheer entertainment value.
Recommended:
Yes
Describe the newspaper's political views: No political views are evident
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