Real Life, Real News Initiative Wins Gannett IDEAS Contest
McLEAN, VA – A Gannett Newspaper Division initiative designed to gain readership by developing and promoting content more relevant to readers’ lives is the winner of the company’s 2004 IDEAS contest.
“Real Life, Real News: Connecting with Readers’ Lives” was developed by a team of editors, publishers, representatives of the corporate Research Department and News Department executives.
“Real Life, Real News is reporting on people, places and events significant in the everyday lives of readers and covering other news so that it directly connects to them,” according to the entry. “The program includes another breakthrough approach: respecting and writing more about the Moments of Life that are especially important in readers’ lives.”
The program was introduced to newsrooms through online training sessions and a dedicated Web site beginning in September, 2003. Each newsroom was asked to create a plan and make the program part of the culture by including components in job descriptions and performance evaluations.
Real Life, Real News was one of 145 projects entered in this years IDEAS contest. In addition to the top award, IDEAS judges named two other winners:
-
Genesys 2 Advertising Pricing Engine.
Developed by a team of Gannett software engineers, Genesys 2 is designed to price any type of advertising or ad package to facilitate sales. The software allows advertising sales representatives to structure package sales and book orders efficiently.
Yo one.
The high quality, glossy magazine was created by Newsquest, Gannett’s United Kingdom group, to appeal to 25 to 35-year-olds in York. Named for the area’s postcode, YO1, the monthly magazine contains features and interviews aimed at quality living.
“Whenever creativity is combined with a true understanding of our customers, interesting ideas result. This group of winners not only demonstrates the ability to innovate, but also shows the diversity of our employees’ talents,” said Douglas H. McCorkindale, chairman, president and CEO of Gannett (NYSE: GCI).
Judges for the IDEAS contest were McCorkindale; Thomas L. Chapple, senior vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel; Paul Davidson, chairman and CEO of Newsquest; Craig Dubow, president and CEO of Gannett Broadcasting; Craig Moon, president and publisher of USA TODAY; and Gary Watson, president of the Newspaper Division.
Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 101 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns more than 500 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes more than 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 22 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
For more information, contact:
Tara Connell
Vice President of Corporate Communications
703-854-6049
tjconnel@gannett.com