The newspaper USA Today is making the most dramatic overhaul of its staff in its 28 year history as it de-emphasizes its print edition and ramps up its effort to reach more readers and advertisers on mobile devices. The makeover outlined to staffers on Thursday will result in about 130 layoffs this fall.
The newsroom instead will be broken up into a cluster of “content rings” each headed up by editors who will be appointed later this year.
“We’ll focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms (Web, mobile, iPad and other digital formats),” according to a slide show presented Thursday to USA Today’s staff.
USA Today’s circulation has been plunging in recent years, dropping to an average of 1.83 million during the six months ending in March. That’s down from 2.3 million in 2007 when USA Today reigned as the nation’s largest newspaper.
Read more at the New York Times.
