Newsday, USA Today ‘natural partners’

The launch on Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency hotel saw the culmination of a partnership agreement with Newsday which is printing and distributing USA Today in its El Socorro Pressroom.

Guests were welcomed by Newsday’s Executive Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Therese Mills who said that the partnership was a natural one.

“Newsday is now in its 17th year although we were given six weeks to live in 1993 when we started,” she said.

She compared the experience of USA Today which was started in 1982 and given six months to live according to Tom Kelly, Circulation Vice President of USA Today.

Today both Newsday and USA Today are national readers.

According to the October 2009 ABC Audit, USA Today has a daily circulation of 1.9 million copies. According to the last independent MORI survey commissioned by the Government, Newsday is the newspaper of choice by 68 percent of readers.

Using modern technology, USA Today will be printed at El Socorro and distributed Monday to Friday in Trinidad and Tobago.

The partnership arrangements were executed by Newsday’s Financial Comptroller, Maria Cooper who gave those present an overview of Newsday’s achievements.

Also addressing the gathering were Tom Kelly, Circulation Vice President and Jill Heymer, Director, National Circulation/Sales/Travel of USA Today.

Kelly praised Newsday for the efficiency that it brought to the negotiations. He added that USA Today was looking forward to a mutual beneficial partnership for both companies.

Heymer said that USA Today was created for the “traveller with limited time on the go.” At a time when newspaper or circulation has declined a bit, USA Today has never seen more readers engaged with their content.

USA Today is available at select outlets nationwide. Information can be had at www.newsday.co.tt or from any Newsday/USA Today representative at 674-4USA.