In this episode of Adspeak, ADWEEK senior media reporter Mark Stenberg is joined by USA Today Co.’s Lark-Marie Anton, chief communications and brand officer, and Kristin Roberts, president of media, to unpack the company’s landmark transition from Gannett to USA Today Co. and what it signals for the future of publishing in the AI era.
The conversation explores how unifying more than 200 local media brands under a single trusted identity strengthens audience recognition, advertiser value, and AI attribution.
Lark-Marie and Kristin discuss the research behind the rebrand, the company’s unique local-to-national reach, and how proprietary tools like Deeper Dive help keep audiences engaged within trusted publisher ecosystems.
They also examine AI partnerships, evolving search behavior, and why a strong, recognizable brand may be a publisher’s most valuable asset in an increasingly AI-driven media landscape.
What you’ll learn:
- How to leverage brand consolidation as a defensive strategy against AI answer engines
- Why data-driven brand decisions outweigh aesthetic rebrands
- The “Local-to-National Platform” positioning for capturing advertiser attention
- How to embed proprietary AI tools (like Deeper Dive) as brand moats
- The negotiating leverage principle for AI partnerships
- Why internal narrative alignment matters as much as external branding
About the Guests:
Lark-Marie Anton is Chief Communications and Brand Officer at USA Today Co., where she leads communications and brand strategy in support of the company’s mission to strengthen local communities. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications and integrated marketing, she has held senior leadership roles at Hertz, Verizon, Loews Hotels, and Aura, and previously served in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. A recognized communications leader, she serves on multiple nonprofit and educational boards and was named one of Ragan’s Top Women in Communications.
Kristin Roberts is President of USA Today Media, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience across journalism, media, and business transformation. Before joining USA Today, she served as Chief Content Officer at McClatchy, where she led 30 newsrooms and helped develop a new business model for local media. She previously held leadership roles at Politico and Reuters, overseeing major political, business, and international coverage. Roberts holds degrees from Georgetown, Columbia, and George Washington University and is actively involved in community leadership in Miami.
