--- title: How USA Today Expanded Olympic Reporting with SMS News description: USA Today launched an SMS campaign to report live from the Tokyo Olympics. Learn how texting allowed the team to quickly understand and pivot their coverage. image: https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/Olympics.jpg --- [![Subtext Logo](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/subtextlogo.svg "Subtext")](https://joinsubtext.com/) Menu - Customers Open Dropdown Close Dropdown [Newsrooms & Media Newsrooms & Media Headlines, current events, local news…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/media) [Music Music Artists, labels, festivals...](https://joinsubtext.com/v/music) [Sports Sports Athletes, game coverage, podcasts…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/sports) [Marketing & Commerce Launches, events, affiliate marketing…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/marketing) [Creators Creators Influencers, podcasters, thought leaders…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/creators) [Politics & Advocacy Politics & Advocacy Politicians, PACs, organizations…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/politics) - Features Open Dropdown Close Dropdown [Features Overview Features Overview View all Subtext features at a glance](https://info.joinsubtext.com/features)[The Subtext Platform The Subtext Platform Broadcast composer, subscriber inbox...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/subtext-platform)[Subscriber Growth Tools Subscriber Growth Tools Landing pages, embeds, keyword sign-ups...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/subscriber-growth-tools)[Engagement Tools Engagement Tools Auto-replies, SMS surveys, drip sequences...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/engagement-tools)[Audience Segmentation Audience Segmentation Audience tags, segments, personalization...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/audience-segmentation)[Analytics, Subscriber Data & Reporting Analytics, Subscriber Data & Reporting Monthly reports, live analytics, 1st party data...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/analytics-reporting) [API & Webhooks API & Webhooks SMS API, subscriber management...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/api-webhooks) [Security, Compliance & Support Security, Compliance & Support 10DLC registration, audit logs...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/security-compliance) - [Case Studies](https://info.joinsubtext.com/case-studies) - [Blog](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog) - [Log In](https://joinsubtext.com/dashboard) - [Book a Demo](https://joinsubtext.com/#sign_up) ![](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/Olympics.jpg) # How USA Today Expanded Olympic Reporting with SMS News Published by [Subtext](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/author/subtext) on Sep 7, 2021 This year’s Olympic games were highly anticipated and [USA Today's](https://www.usatoday.com/) Audience Development Manager [Alex Ptachick](https://twitter.com/alexptachick) decided to let her readers follow along via text.  Alex used Subtext’s simple platform to keep her subscribers updated on event winners, top athlete headlines, COVID protocols and other breaking news. [![USA Today](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/USA%20Today.png?width=451&height=440&name=USA%20Today.png)](https://joinsubtext.com/usatodaytokyoolympics) Alex’s campaign amassed thousands of subscribers over the course of the Olympics. People were drawn to her perspective of being in Tokyo in the middle of this historic event. Promoting the [Tokyo Olympics texting campaign](https://joinsubtext.com/usatodaytokyoolympics) began before the opening ceremony even began. USA Today led people to subscribe by placing in-line links with clear call to actions on their website. Several members of Alex’s team as well as the official USA Today twitter handle also promoted the texting service. [![Screen Shot 2021-07-27 at 1-52-42 PM-png](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-27%20at%201-52-42%20PM-png.png?width=306&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-07-27%20at%201-52-42%20PM-png.png)](https://twitter.com/alexptachick/status/1419286264721772551?s=20) Alex tweeted that she reached her subscriber goal about halfway through the games. Her texts were friendly and conversational. She also let new subscribers know what they could expect from her texts and asked for feedback along the way. Once, she sent out a text trying something new: sharing the Olympics’ schedule of the day and asked people to let her know if they liked it. Hundreds of subscribers responded in approval. [![USA Today Tokyo Olympics 2-1](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/USA%20Today%20Tokyo%20Olympics%202-1.png?width=680&height=601&name=USA%20Today%20Tokyo%20Olympics%202-1.png)](https://joinsubtext.com/usatodaytokyoolympics) Alex tweeted that she pivoted her plan as she learned what the subscribers wanted, “Some loved the behind the scenes access. Others really wanted breaking news updates, in the moment. People needed help finding where to watch favorite events. A few really just wanted to know if Team USA was winning the medal count. Many were interested in what I was eating!” During the games she provided links to USA Today’s Olympic stories and after the games she encouraged people to subscribe for USA Today or one of their similar newsletters. ![USA Today Tokyo Olympics 3](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/USA%20Today%20Tokyo%20Olympics%203.png?width=680&height=556&name=USA%20Today%20Tokyo%20Olympics%203.png) USA Today continues to leverage Subtext to provide newsworthy updates and important event coverage for their audience in a very personal way. Want to build an audience around a big event? [Request a demo](https://info.joinsubtext.com/book-a-demo) today. Tags: [Use Cases](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/tag/use-cases) [Back to Blog](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog) ### Ready to start texting? [Schedule a Demo](https://info.joinsubtext.com/book-a-demo) ## Related Articles ## [Q&A with FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/qa-with-floridapolitics.com-publisher-peter-schorsch) At Subtext we're fortunate to work with amazing partners across media, sports, entertainment,... [Read More](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/qa-with-floridapolitics.com-publisher-peter-schorsch) ## [Q&A with Tony Guzman of The Washington Post](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/build-your-own-adventures-the-washington-post) At Subtext, we’re fortunate to work with amazing partners across media, sports, entertainment,... [Read More](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/build-your-own-adventures-the-washington-post) ## [Audience Engagement Q&A: Ross Jackson of LockedOn Saints](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog/audience-engagement-masterclass-lockedon-saints) At Subtext, we’re fortunate to work with amazing partners across media, sports, entertainment,... 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