2021 NON-SPORTS EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2021 USA TODAY CALENDAR
MONTH TOPIC / EVENT OPPORTUNITY/PACKAGE ALIGNMENT
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS Reviewed product lists, Home full funnel solution, Journey to Health series
RUGGED RACES: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K (1/10 – 12/12) Humankind, Sportskind --(Jan-Apr) are virtual events
TRIBUTE HOLIDAY: Martin Luther King Day (1/18) Black History Month package
Election coverage alignment, Women of the Century coverage alignment with VP elect, ELECTION KEY DATE: Inauguration Day (1/20) high impact opportunity
FULLER STORIES: Hallowed Sounds (date TBD) Black History Month package
JAN STORYTELLERS “I AM” VIRTUAL EVENT SERIES LAUNCH: Black History Month package, Content with a Cause package, (1/12-10/5): First Event - I Am Black (1/12) Race in America media alignment + newsletter
TECH INDUSTRY EVENT: CES (Virtual, 1/6-1/9) Tech CES event coverage alignment
TAX SEASON STARTS: (Jan-April) Tax seasonal coverage alignment, Just the FAQs explainers
CRUISE WAVE SEASON STARTS: (Jan-Mar) Travel cruise coverage alignment (if cruising business is not still impacted)
FILM FESTIVAL: Sundance (1/28-2/3) Entertainment Sundance film coverage alignment + EntertainThis
AWARDS SEASON EVENT: Grammys (1/31) Award Season package + EntertainThis , High impact opportunity
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month package
AWARDS SEASON EVENT: Golden Globes (2/28) Award Season package + EntertainThis, High impact opportunity
Live stream moment of Chicago Auto Show in Money and off platform (Twitter), AUTO SHOW: Chicago Auto Show (2/13-2/21) FEB Chicago Auto Show coverage alignment
RETAIL HOLIDAY: Valentine’s Day (2/14) Shoppable Hub, Reviewed gift guides, 10Best romantic getaways, Problem Solved
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, SPRING (dates TBD) Entertainment fashion coverage alignment + EntertainThis
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Women of the Century, Womankind
TECH INDUSTRY EVENT: SXSW (Virtual, 3/16-3/20) Tech/Entertainment SXSW event coverage alignment
AWARDS SEASON EVENT: SAG Awards (3/14) Award Season package + EntertainThis MAR STORYTELLER “I AM” VIRTUAL EVENTS: --I Am Indigenous (3/2) Content for a Cause package, Race in America media alignment + newsletter --I Am Hispanic (3/30)
RUGGED RACES: Rugged Maniac Series (3/20-11/20) Sportskind 2021 USA TODAY CALENDAR
MONTH TOPIC / EVENT OPPORTUNITY
Live stream moment of NY Int’l Auto Show in Money and off platform (Twitter) AUTO SHOW: NY International Auto Show (4/2-4/11) NY Int’l Auto Show coverage alignment
RETAIL HOLIDAY: Easter (4/4) Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, Food/Recipe ideas, 10Best places to celebrate APR MUSIC FESTIVAL: Coachella (4/9-4/18) Entertainment Coachella music festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis AWARENESS DAY: Earth Day (4/22) Community Climate, Earthkind, Problem Solved, Just the FAQs
FILM FESTIVAL: Tribeca Film Festival Entertainment Tribeca Film Festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis
AWARDS SEASON EVENT: Oscars/Academy Awards (4/25) Award Season package + EntertainThis , High impact opportunity
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK: (5/3-5/7) USA & Main, Surviving & Thriving
FASHION EVENT: Met Gala (5/3) Entertainment Met Gala Fashion event coverage alignment + EntertainThis
FILM FESTIVAL: Cannes (5/11-5/22) Entertainment Cannes film festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis
TECH INDUSTRY EVENT: RSA Conference (5/17-5/20) Tech RSA Conference coverage alignment
Live stream moment of LA Auto show in Money and off platform (Twitter), AUTO SHOW: LA Auto Show (5/21-5/31) MAY LA Auto Show coverage alignment
SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT PREVIEW: (May-Jun) Entertainment Summer Preview coverage alignment + EntertainThis --Movies, TV, Music, Books (new releases/reviews)
RETAIL HOLIDAYS: --Memorial Day (5/31) Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, Reviewed gift guides, 10Best lists, Kind series, --Mother’s Day (5/9) Summer in America to kick start after Memorial Day --Graduation (May-Jun)
PRIDE MONTH Content for a Cause, Humankind
RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series Womankind, Sportskind, ForTheWin Bracket of Superheroes --Wonder Woman (6/1) JUN FLIM FESTIVAL: Tribeca Film Festival (6/9-6/20) Entertainment film coverage alignment + EntertainThis RETAIL HOLIDAY: Father’s Day (6/20) Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, Reviewed gift guides, 10Best lists
TECH INDUSTRY EVENTS: --E3 (6/15-6/17) Tech E3 and Apple WWDC industry event coverage alignment --Apple WWDC (Jun. expected) 2021 USA TODAY CALENDAR
MONTH TOPIC / EVENT OPPORTUNITY
RETAIL HOLIDAY: Independence Day (7/4) Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, 10Best lists, Our Backyard
BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Jul-Aug Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, Reviewed product lists and best places to shop
RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series Humankind, Sportskind, Animalkind --Scooby Doo Family & Pet Run/Walk (7/13) JUL TECH INDUSTRY EVENTS: --Game Developers Conference (7/19-7/23) Tech Game Developers Conference and Black Hat USA event coverage alignment --Black Hat USA (7/31-8/3)
TECH/ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EVENT: Live stream moment in Tech/Entertainment and off platform (Twitter), --Comic Con (7/22-7/25) Tech/Entertainment industry event coverage alignment
MUSIC FESTIVAL: Lollapalooza (7/29-8/1) Entertainment Lollapalooza Music festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis
STORYTELLER “I AM” VIRTUAL EVENT: I Am Asian (8/31) Content with a Cause package, Race in America media alignment + newsletter
FALL ENTERTAINMENT PREVIEW: (Aug-Sep) Entertainment Fall Preview coverage alignment + EntertainThis --Movies, TV, Music, Books (new releases/reviews) AUG MUSIC FESTIVAL: Burning Man (8/29-9/6) Entertainment Burning Man festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis
RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series Sportskind, ForTheWin Bracket of Superheroes --Batman (8/31)
FILM FESTIVALS: --Venice (9/1-9/11) Entertainment Venice and Toronto Int’l film festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis --Toronto International (9/9-9/19)
RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series Content for a Cause, Sportskind --Pride Stride (9/1)
MUSIC FESTIVAL: Bonnaroo (9/2-9/5) Entertainment Bonnaroo music festival coverage alignment + EntertainThis
RETAIL HOLIDAY: Labor Day (9/6) Shoppable Hub, Problem Solved, Reviewed gift guides, 10Best lists, Our Backyard SEP TRIBUTE DAY: 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Humankind, Militarykind, media alignment next to coverage of anniversary
Live stream moment of North American Int’l Auto Show in Money and off platform AUTO SHOW: North American Int’l Auto Show (9/24-10/9) (Twitter) and industry event coverage alignment
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, FALL (dates, TBD) Entertainment Fall Fashion event coverage alignment + EntertainThis
AWARDS SEASON EVENT: Emmys (date TBD) Emmy awards coverage alignment + EntertainThis
HEALTH & WELLNESS: Cold & Flu Season Cold & Flu Season package tied to Humankind, Problem Solved, Just the FAQs 2021 USA TODAY CALENDAR
MONTH TOPIC / EVENT OPPORTUNITY
STORYTELLER “I AM” VIRTUAL EVENT: Content for a Cause package, Race in America media alignment + newsletter --I Am Middle Eastern (10/5) RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series Holidaykind, Sportskind OCT --Turkey Trot (10/15) TECH INDUSTRY EVENT: Tech Mobile World Congress, LA event coverage alignment --Mobile World Congress, LA (10/26-10/28) RETAIL HOLIDAY: Halloween (10/31) Shoppable Hub, Reviewed lists, Problem Solved AWARDS SEASON EVENT: CMA coverage alignment on USAT + Tennessean Country Mile section --Country Music Awards (date TBD) RUGGED RACES: DC/WB Virtual Run Series --ELF (11/2) Holidaykind, Sportskind --Christmas Story (11/2)
TRIBUTE HOLIDAY: Veteran’s Day (11/11) Militarykind RETAIL HOLIDAYS: NOV --Thanksgiving (11/25) --Black Friday (11/26) Shoppable Hub, Reviewed gift guides, Problem Solved, Holidaykind, --Small Business Saturday (11/27) Food/Recipe ideas, Made at Home, USA & Main/Surviving and Thriving, --Hanukkah (11/28-12/6) Giving Tuesday ad package --Cyber Monday (11/29) --Giving Tuesday (11/30) HOLIDAY TRAVEL: (Nov/Dec) --Top vacation destinations & getaways, travel 10Best lists, Tips and Trips, Our Backyard survival guide
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EVENT: American Influencer Awards package + EntertainThis --American Influencer Awards (date TBD) RETAIL HOLIDAYS: Shoppable Hub, Reviewed gift guides, Problem Solved, Holidaykind, DEC --Christmas (12/25) Food/Recipe ideas, 10Best lists --Kwanzaa (12/26)
YEAR IN REVIEW Media alignment next to round up coverage by section 2021 SPORTS EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2020 – 2021 SPORTS CALENDAR
START DATE END DATE SPORT / PROGRAM
9/1/2020 6/30/2021 High School: Super 25
9/1/2020 6/30/2021 High School: ALL-USA
9/10/2020 1/3/2021 NFL Regular Season
11/25/2020 3/13/2021 College Basketball Regular Season
12/9/2020 12/31/2020 College Football Bowl Season
1/1/2021 1/11/2021 College Football Playoffs (1/1) & Championship (1/11)
1/9/2021 1/24/2021 NFL Playofffs
12/22/2020 3/4/2021 NBA First Half of Regular Season
1/20/2021 2/14/2021 NFL / Super Bowl: Ad Meter
1/25/2021 2/7/2021 Super Bowl (2/7)
2/9/2021 8/28/2021 NASCAR Regular Season
3/5/2021 3/10/2021 NBA All-Star Break
3/14/2021 4/5/2021 "March Madness" College Basketball Tournament
4/1/2021 6/30/2021 High School Sports Awards
4/1/2021 10/3/2021 MLB Regular Season
4/8/2021 4/11/2021 Golf: The Masters
4/16/2021 5/31/2021 NBA Playoffs
4/29/2021 5/1/2021 NFL Draft
5/1/2021 5/1/2021 Horseracing: Kentucky Derby
3/11/2021 5/16/2021 NBA Second Half of Regular Season
5/20/2021 5/23/2021 Golf: PGA Championship
5/22/2021 7/22/2021 NBA Playoffs / Finals
5/30/2021 5/30/2021 Indy 500
6/17/2021 6/20/2021 Golf: U.S. Open
7/29/2021 7/29/2021 NBA Draft (estimated date)
7/13/2021 7/13/2021 MLB All-Star Game
7/15/2021 7/18/2021 Golf: The Open Championship
7/23/2021 8/8/2021 Olympics - Summer, Tokyo 2020
8/12/2021 8/29/2021 Golf: FedEx Cup Playoffs
8/24/2021 9/5/2021 Paralympics - Summer, Tokyo 2020
9/2/2021 11/27/2021 College Football Regular Season (estimated dates)
9/5/2021 11/7/2021 NASCAR Playoffs
9/9/2021 1/2/2022 NFL Regular Season
9/25/2021 9/27/2021 Golf: Ryder Cup
10/4/2021 10/24/2021 MLB Postseason (estimated dates)
10/25/2021 11/2/2021 MLB World Series (estimated dates)
12/8/2021 12/30/2021 College Football Bowl Season
12/30/2021 1/10/2022 College Football Playoffs (12/31) & Championship (1/10)