Why Gene Hackman Mattered to His Fans and Why Our Journalism Matters: Read the Exclusive Backstory

A statement from the head of editorial

Nothing compares to the satisfaction felt as the editor in chief of USA TODAY when receiving feedback from individuals who resonate with our reporting.

Introduced in 1982 by Al Neuharth, USA TODAY emerged from print shops with an innovative, vibrant layout that departed significantly from traditional newspapers. Committed to user-friendliness, Neuharth insisted on maintaining engaging content throughout. It wasn’t uncommon for him to intervene until deadlines just to ensure headlines weren't dull enough to deter readers.

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Be direct. Avoid boring your audience with dullness. Feel free to incorporate drama, humor, and unexpected twists when sharing important stories for your readers. Neuharth believed that this ethos would lead to the success of the country’s newspapers.

I couldn't agree more.

Each day, we strive to build a strong bond with our audience of readers, watchers, and listeners. Therefore, I'm thrilled to share that beginning May 4th, I will be initiating The Backstory , a subscriber-only newsletter and column designed to offer an insider’s view into our process for bringing you engaging stories, practical information, and reliable content.

I'd like to highlight our finest projects and present you to our skilled reporters. Their mastery and dedication truly impress me. Once you get to know them, I believe they'll astonish you as well.

Our narratives are captivating and centered around people. We converse with you rather than speaking to you. Our commitment lies in service journalism—to provide information aimed at assisting you in living your optimal life. Through our coverage of sports and entertainment, we highlight the instances and happenings that delight you (and occasionally sadden you).

Our commitment is to accountability journalism. We prioritize thorough fact-checking and impartial reporting as fundamental aspects of our work.

We understand that each day you're inundated with various contents. Should our narratives fail to resonate with you – if they lack appeal – you wouldn’t find reason to engage with them. And rightfully so.

This is why I find reader feedback incredibly valuable. It confirms the significance of our work.

An instance was the reaction to an extensive report conducted by veteran reporters Rick Jervis and Marco Della Cava about the last days of renowned actor Gene Hackman and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa. This well-loved pair, who resided in Santa Fe, New Mexico, were discovered deceased at their residence on February 26th. Compounding the shock within both the local community and among Hackman’s admirers, the reasons behind their passing remained unclear for some time until officials revealed that Arakawa succumbed first due to a viral infection, followed shortly after by Hackman’s death.

Rick and Marco introduced us to the close-knit community of Santa Fe, bringing to life the ways this pair made an impact on their neighbors' lives. The feature was complemented with a wonderfully crafted article along with an emotionally resonant video.

Rick and Marco’s title grabbed attention: Rick and Marco’s heading was eye-catching: The main headline by Rick and Marco was compelling: Rick and Marco had an arresting header: The lead title from Rick and Marco stood out: Rick and Marco came up with a striking opening line: Rugged individual, everyday man. Gene Hackman sought privacy and a secluded artistic existence in Santa Fe. The narrative captivated me right from the opening lines.

One reader wrote:

Rick,

I just wanted to quickly express my gratitude for your outstanding reporting and writing about the last few days of Gene Hackman and his spouse. Educators in journalism should utilize this piece as a model for how to craft detailed timelines. It was quite enjoyable.

Another reader wrote:

I find it hard to express just how much I appreciated reading this piece. Gene truly was an amazing individual. Thanks for penning this alongside Marco Della Cova.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing additional insights from readers. I aim to guide you through our methodology and the dedication we apply to our work. As this is meant to be an ongoing dialogue, your comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read.

To back USA TODAY and our reporters, become a subscriber today For those who have already signed up, thank you. You can always do so at any time. subscribe to get The Backstory here .

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: What Gene Hackman signified for his audience and why our reporting is significant. Read The Backstory