What Gene Hackman meant to his fans and why our journalism matters. Read The Backstory
What Gene Hackman meant to his fans and why our journalism matters. Read The Backstory
A message from the editor in chief
There is nothing more rewarding as editor in chief of USA TODAY than hearing from people who connect with our journalism.
Launched in 1982 by Al Neuharth, USA TODAY rolled off printing presses with a creative, colorful design that broke the mold of older, legacy newspapers. Neuharth was resolute about a reader-friendly approach. He was known to weigh in even on deadline to insist that editors rewrite headlines if they were too bland.
Get to the point. Never waste readers' time with stodginess. Don't be afraid to use drama, humor and the element of surprise to tell the stories that matter most to readers. Neuharth was convinced that ethos would drive the success of the nation's newspaper.
I couldn't agree more.
Every day, we aspire to forge a deep connection with our readers, viewers and listeners. That is why I'm excited to announce that starting May 4, I'm launching The Backstory, a subscriber-exclusive newsletter and column that will take you behind the scenes of how we deliver lively stories, news you can use and content you can trust.
I want to showcase our best work and introduce you to our talented journalists. I'm in awe of their expertise and commitment. When you learn more about them, I think you will be too.
Our stories are engaging and people-focused. We talk with you, not at you. We're dedicated to service journalism: the mission of informing you to help you live your best life. With our sports and entertainment news, we capture the moments and events that bring you joy (and sometimes heartache).
We are devoted to accountability journalism. Rigorous fact-checking and unbiased journalism are at the core of what we do.
We know you are bombarded every day with content. If our stories don't speak to you - if they aren't compelling - you won't make time for them. Nor should you.
That's why reader feedback is so meaningful to me. It validates the importance of what we do.
One example was the response to a deep dive that senior journalists Rick Jervis and Marco Della Cava did on the final days of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple, beloved in their community of Santa Fe, New Mexico, were found dead in their home Feb. 26. Adding to the blow to the community and to Hackman's fans, the causes of the couple's deaths were initially a mystery until authorities discovered Arakawa had died first from a virus and Hackman passed away days later.
Rick and Marco brought our audience to the tight-knit Santa Fe community and painted a vivid picture of how the couple touched the lives of their neighbors. Our package included a beautifully written story and moving video.
Rick and Marco's headline was captivating: Tough guy, everyman. Gene Hackman pursued anonymity and a private artist life in Santa Fe. The story was riveting from the first paragraph.
One reader wrote:
Rick,
Just a quick note to thank you for the excellent reporting and writing on the final days of Gene Hackman and his wife. Journalism teachers should use this as an example of how to do a tick tock. I enjoyed it.
Another reader wrote:
I can't say how much I enjoyed this article. What an incredible person Gene was. Thank you for writing this along with Marco Della Cava.
In the coming weeks, I will share more reader feedback. I will walk you through our approach to our craft and the rigor with which we carry it out. And in the spirit of a conversation, I always welcome your feedback. Thanks for reading.
To support USA TODAY and our journalists, become a subscriber today. For those already subscribed, thank you. You can always sign up to receive The Backstory here.
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