How to Get on USA Today: A Practical Guide for Tech Companies
USA Today reaches a national audience, and an article there is proof most buyers and investors recognise. Here's how companies actually get on it, what journalists look for, and the mistakes to avoid.
Short answer: you get on USA Today by giving a journalist a story that matters to a national audience, timed to news they're already covering, with a credible person to quote. Most companies do it either by pitching the right reporter directly or by working with a PR agency that already has the relationships.
The ways companies get on USA Today
| Route | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Staff reporting | A reporter covers your company, data or expert view as part of a story | Companies with real news or a strong expert angle |
| Expert commentary | Your executive is quoted in a story about a wider trend | Leaders with a clear point of view on news |
| Local network coverage | USA Today is part of Gannett's USA TODAY Network, whose local papers can carry a regional story | Companies with a strong local angle |
| Working with a PR agency | The agency shapes the story and handles outreach | Teams without time or media relationships |
What USA Today journalists look for
- A national angle: why should a reader anywhere in the US care?
- Timing: a link to something already in the news.
- Proof: data, customers or results, not claims.
- A credible person to quote, ready to talk quickly.
- A short pitch that gets to the point in the first two sentences.
Step by step
- Find the reporters who cover your topic by reading their recent articles.
- Build your angle around the reader's problem, not your product.
- Write a pitch under 150 words: the news, why it matters now, and who can talk.
- Follow up once, with something new.
- When the article goes live, use it on your website, in sales decks and on LinkedIn.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sending a press release instead of a personal pitch.
- Pitching a product launch with no wider story.
- Paying for an article without knowing whether it's editorial or sponsored.
- Pitching every reporter at once instead of the right one.
How Jamco PR gets clients on USA Today
Jamco PR got eBodyGuard, a personal safety app, on USA Today, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance by building the story around safer cities and public safety partnerships, rather than app details. Jamco works with guaranteed placements: if one doesn't go live within 60 days, it's replaced with another top-tier outlet at no extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get your company in USA Today?
Pitch a story with a national angle, tied to current news, to the reporter who covers your topic, with data or results and an executive ready to be quoted. Or work with a PR agency that has those relationships.
Can you pay to be in USA Today?
USA Today sells advertising and sponsored content, which is labeled as such. Editorial articles are earned by giving a journalist a story worth covering.
How long does it take to get on USA Today?
It depends on your story and timing. With a strong angle and the right outreach, it can take a few weeks.
Does Jamco PR guarantee USA Today?
Jamco PR guarantees placements on top-tier publications such as USA Today, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance, and replaces any placement that doesn't go live within 60 days.
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