"This summer, a series of long, investigative articles explored why most American troops in Iraq still do not have vehicles that could protect them from explosives, though the vehicles were available years ago and the Iraqi military has them. The series appeared in USA Today — yes, USA Today, the newspaper that pioneered vivid color and microarticles, favored the upbeat over the serious and sprinkled its pages with frivolous graphics (we sure do like tuna sandwiches for lunch, America). But no close reader would have been surprised to see tough reporting alongside the flash.
"USA Today, which turned 25 on Saturday, still stands apart as a lighter and quicker read than most of its competitors. And, as many journalists feared it might, USA Today, once derided as 'McPaper,' has made a lasting mark on American newspapers in general, prodding many drab dailies to print shorter articles, switch to color, devote more space to sports and use more pictures and graphics.
"But at the same time, USA Today has gradually become more like other papers — more substantive, more serious, more likely to give ample space to at least a few big stories. The newspaper has grown up from a caricatured outsider to a respectable part of the establishment that competitors, government and business must take seriously."
