McLean, Va. – This past September, as part of USA WEEKEND Magazine’s 25^th anniversary celebration, readers were invited to share what influenced them most over the past quarter century. More than 6,000 readers completed the survey and commented. Full results will be announced in the December 26 edition of the newspaper magazine.

Results show that over the past 25 years, USA WEEKEND readers were influenced by the personal computer, cell phones, the passing of Princess Diana, Harry Potter, gourmet coffee, and Forrest Gump. Survey results include these findings:

• We have a love/hate relationship with our cell phones.  64% say cell phones changed their lives for the better, but at 33%, it was also the #1 invention that changed the lives of readers for the worse.
• Readers trimmed the fat from their diets, but not the fun. Fat-free food is the favorite food trend of 26% of our readers and cholesterol-lowering drugs were the medical advance that made 41% of our readers lives better.  But the #1 favorite food trend for readers is gourmet coffee (29%), followed by the aforementioned fat-free food and then the guilty pleasures of cupcakes ranked #3 at 15%.
• The sudden unexpected deaths of two youthful and promising figures had a profound effect on 50% of our readers. Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy, Jr. ranked #1 and 2, with Pope John Paul II, who died at the age of 84, in third place.
• In light of today’s challenging economy, the survey revealed a potential growth area for employment. Tattoos ranked as the #1 least-favorite fashion trend of the last 25 years, leading one reader to note, “the best future profession for making money will be tattoo removal.”

The survey was announced in the September 12 issue of USA WEEKEND, inviting readers to log onto usaweekend.com to share their thoughts on the past 25 years and be entered to win one of 25 prizes.  The multiple-choice questionnaire was open to the public from Sunday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 20. Full results can be found in December 26 editions of the newsmagazine and online at www.usaweekend.com.

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2010, USA WEEKEND is a national weekly newspaper magazine with 22.6 million circulation and 47 million readers in print and online.  It is distributed through more than 800 newspapers. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. It has an expanded presence in the social media arena with active participation on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) publication.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sonia David, VP/Market Development

535 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022

(212) 715-2151 or sdavid@usaweekend.com

When USA WEEKEND first launched in 1985, Microsoft had just released the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.  Since then, these inventions have shaped the past quarter century for USA WEEKEND readers:

• For Better:  The personal computer was the #1 invention that made lives better for 78% of USA WEEKEND readers, followed by the Internet (77%). But both technologies have been around for decades.  Time will tell if the two lowest-ranking inventions, hybrid cars and the e-reader, both at 4%, will revolutionize the world 20 years in the future.
• For Worse:  At 33%, the cell phone is the #1 invention that changed the lives of readers for the worse. But the cell phone was also the #3 invention that changed the lives of 64% of readers for the better.  Either way the message is clear. We have a love/hate relationship with our cell phones.

The survey was announced in the September 12 issue of USA WEEKEND, inviting readers to log onto usaweekend.com to share their thoughts on the past 25 years and be entered to win one of 25 prizes.  The multiple-choice questionnaire was open to the public from Sunday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 20. Full results can be found in December 26 editions of the newsmagazine and online at www.usaweekend.com.

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2010, USA WEEKEND is a national weekly newspaper magazine with 22.6 million circulation and 47 million readers in print and online.  It is distributed through more than 800 newspapers. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. It has an expanded presence in the social media arena with active participation on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) publication.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sonia David, VP/Market Development

535 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022

(212) 715-2151 or sdavid@usaweekend.com

USA WEEKEND will build custom societies for marketers and invite readers and shoppers to join. Society members use the service while shopping at major retailers to view relevant content from USA WEEKEND and exclusive brand messages. They can share product recommendations with other members. Those who check into select stores earn rewards and chances to win prizes including shopping gift cards, movie tickets and electronics.

ConAgra Foods and Kellogg’s are the first brands to leverage the Whrrl platform. ConAgra Foods’ Marie Callender’s is launching the Family Meals society on Nov. 7, providing its members with recipes and tips on how to bring the family together for daily meals. The Kellogg’s program will debut in December.

“Whrrl provides a unique way for USA WEEKEND to engage our readers with its combination of social and mobile capabilities,” said USA WEEKEND President and Publisher Chuck Gabrielson. “What really separates this mobile marketing program from others is its ability to bridge the communication gap with readers between their in-home planning and in-store purchase decision making.”

“We are one step closer to a world of perfect information. Instead of searching for the right ideas, the right ideas need to find you,” said John Kim, Vice President of Product for Pelago. “When you are at the store, brands should strive to make your life simpler and more delightful. Everyday activities don’t have to be mundane. Marketing does not have to be mundane. What if brands could fill your life with rewards, more social connection and fun? That is the mission of this partnership.”

About Pelago, Makers of Whrrl

Pelago was founded to revolutionize the way people experience and explore the physical world. Whrrl, the company’s flagship product, is a real-world game with a purpose: to help people escape from behind their computers and patterned lives, to get back out into the physical world with the promise of compelling, highly relevant new experiences. The company, founded in 2006, is based in Seattle and is led by an executive team from companies including Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Yahoo. Pelago is backed by pioneering Internet and mobile investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bezos Expeditions, T-Venture, Trilogy Equity Partners and Reliance Technology Ventures. For more information, visit www.pelago.com.

About USA WEEKEND

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, USA WEEKEND is a national weekly newspaper magazine with 22.6 million circulation and 47 million readers in print and online. It is distributed through more than 800 newspapers. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. It has an expanded presence in the social media arena with active participation on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co. Inc. publication.

Contacts:

Heather Meeker
Pelago, makers of Whrrl
310.435.3535
heather@pelago.com

Sonia David
USA WEEKEND
212.715.2151
sdavid@usaweekend.com

Beginning with the Sept. 26 issue, the four hosts of the 2010 Daytime Emmy-winning talk show (ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, OB-GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson, plastic surgeon and ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Andrew Ordon and pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears) will share their expertise by addressing various medical topics in the magazine throughout the year, from weekly features to special issue health reports. The Doctors will preview the health topic covered with that week’s issue of
USA WEEKEND. Exclusive videos from The Doctors will be available online at usaweekend.com.

“This high-impact national alliance provides exactly the type of lively, upbeat health information that our readers want,” said Gabrielson. “Its delivery through several access points supports our distributing partner newspapers and advertising environment.”

“Our readers tell us that health is one of the top concerns for themselves and their families,” said VP/Executive Editor Brenda Turner. “The Doctors is instantly recognizable to millions of our readers, making this partnership a great way to dispense meaningful medical advice.”

“We are delighted that USA WEEKEND shares our passion for delivering accurate information that can help people live healthier lives,” states Jay McGraw, creator and executive producer of The Doctors. “We couldn’t ask for a more enthusiastic partner with whom to collaborate.”

About The Doctors

The Doctors is a ground-breaking talk show, premiering its third season on Monday, Sept. 13, that provides frank discussions about health and wellness in a fascinating, off-the-cuff manner. It tapes in front of an audience in Hollywood and is produced by Stage 29 Productions and distributed by CBS Television Distribution. Jay McGraw, Carla Pennington and Dr. Phil McGraw are executive producers, and Andrew Scher is the co-executive producer. CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in television syndication.

About USA WEEKEND

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, USA WEEKEND is a national weekly magazine distributed through more than 800 newspapers and is read by more than 47 million adults. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. The magazine provides Newspaper in Education classroom guides to partner newspapers, and its website, usaweekend.com, offers enhanced content and interactive features. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co. Inc. publication.

For more information, contact:

Sonia David
USA WEEKEND Magazine
212.715.2151

Stacey Luchs
The Doctors
323.956.3357

Of the 33,000+ votes cast, the first lady won the survey with 71% or a total of more than 23,600 compared to Palin at 9,800+. Hundreds more e-mailed letters and left comments on usaweekend.com and its social media networks. The poll was live throughout the busy Mother’s Day weekend.

“From the start, the reaction of our readers to both of these women was very passionate,” said Executive Editor Brenda Turner. “We wanted to explore that excitement and gauge how they really felt about both women as mothers. Even though this was Mother’s Day weekend, we were not surprised when we saw the high volume of activity.”

The magazine posted the poll on its online site, shared it on the USA WEEKEND Facebook page and Twitter feed, and wrote about it on the USA WEEKEND Who’s News Blog. It was also blogged about on USA TODAY’s Lifeline Live blog. A six-hour voting delay and random order switching prevented robo-voting.

USA WEEKEND is a national weekly magazine distributed through more than 750 newspapers. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. The magazine provides Newspaper in Education classroom guides to partner newspapers. Its website, usaweekend.com, provides enhanced content and interactive features. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co. Inc. publication.

For more information, contact:

Sonia David
USA WEEKEND Magazine
212.715.2151