The Wall Street Journal is better for in-depth financial news and a center-right perspective, while USA Today is a better choice for broad coverage of national and international news with a left-center leaning. The choice depends on the user's preference for depth versus breadth and their preferred political perspective.
| Attribute | The Wall Street Journal | USA Today |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Wall Street Journal | USA Today |
| Editorial Stance (Political Leaning) | Center-right to conservative (editorial pages), factual and unbiased (news reporting) | Left-center biased, Middle in bias according to Ad Fontes Media, endorsed Joe Biden in 2020, urged readers not to vote for Donald Trump in 2016. |
| Depth of Financial News Coverage | Extensive, in-depth reporting on markets, economic indicators, and business events | Covers money and business news. |
| Breadth of General News Coverage | U.S. and world news, politics, arts, culture, lifestyle, sports, and health | Covers national and worldwide news, including sports, entertainment, life, money, and technology. Offers concise reports with colorized images and informational graphics. |
| Subscription Cost (Digital and Print) | Digital: Introductory offers may be available, such as $2/week for 1 year, then $38.99 + tax every 4 weeks. Print: Costs vary. | USA TODAY Premium ($9.99), USA TODAY Ad-Free Monthly ($4.99), USA TODAY Premium Plus Ad-Free ($12.99). Digital subscription to USA TODAY US Edition is available through PressReader. |
| Availability of Mobile App | Available for iOS and Android devices | Available on Android and iOS with breaking news alerts, personalized news feeds, offline reading, and immersive VR experiences. |
| Website User Experience | Breaking news streams, interactive features, and data feeds | Simplified website design with new features and competitive page speed. Two layers: section and story. Color-coding for sections. Redesign focused on user experience, simplifying navigation and incorporating advertising. |
| International Coverage | Global digital editions with 12 sites in six languages, edited locally. Staff and news bureaus across many countries. | Covers world and international news and has an international edition distributed in Asia, Canada, Europe, and the Pacific Islands. |
| Investigative Journalism Quality | Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism | The USA Today Network has won 96 Pulitzer Prizes and other journalism accolades. |
| Frequency of Publication | Six days a week, Monday to Saturday | Daily publication. |
| Readership Demographics | Top management, high average income and household net worth, professionals in various industries | Readers are described as 'mission-oriented productive people'. Audience includes everyday Americans and business travelers who are busy, on-the-go, responsible, and practical. usatoday.com: 55.59% male and 44.41% female, largest age group 45-54. Print version: 66.8% male, majority between 25-54 years old (56%), 66.2% employed, 63% have a household income of at least $75,000, and 64.4% have at least some college education. |
| Business News Exclusivity | Known for its business journalism | The Wall Street Journal is considered the premier name in business and economics reporting. |
| Fact-Checking Accuracy | Generally considered a reliable source | Rated as 'Mostly Factual' for factual reporting. However, it has had issues with editors missing fabricated stories. |