What Others Say:

BEN BAGDIKIAN, media critic: "It's like eating a Hershey's bar. It's a quick boost of sugar, but it doesn't last."

MICHAEL KINSLEY, New Republic editor:

"No one who reads a real newspaper is going to rely on USA Today, but then most places in the country don't have access to a real newspaper."

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CREDIT: CHART BY CYNTHIA DAVIS

CAPTION: USA TODAY SNAPSHOT

DESCRIPTION: Annual circulation of USA Today, 1983-1986. Color illustration of newspaper boy throwing newspaper toward front porch.