( CNN ) -- Allen H. Neuharth , who revolutionized American newspapering by founding USA Today with its colorful layouts and concise storytelling that influenced many media empires , died Friday in his home in Cocoa Beach , Florida , the newspaper said . He was 89 . `` The longtime newspaperman , media executive and columnist died after sustaining injuries in a fall at his home , '' USA Today said . Neuharth was a former chairman of Gannett , the publisher of USA Today and 81 other newspapers , who made journalistic history when he took a bold risk launching a daily in 1982 that declared itself the first general interest national newspaper . He battled his own board of directors in championing the publication . Some traditionalists of American journalism criticized USA Today for its emphasis on shorter articles -- calling it `` McPaper '' -- but the paper developed into an extraordinary success financially and journalistically . The newspaper is now the nation 's second-largest daily . The iconoclastic Neuharth was fond of saying that `` the editors who called us McPaper stole our McNuggets . '' `` Al Neuharth reinvented news , '' USA Today Publisher Larry Kramer said in the newspaper 's obituary . `` Even in our recent efforts to translate his vision into the modern world of digital journalism , we relied on him to tell us if we were going in the right direction . '' Neuharth `` was , is and always will be USA Today , '' Dave Callaway , the editor-in-chief , added . `` He holds a remarkable place in the history of American journalism , and the spirit and passion which he brought to our industry will never be extinguished . '' People we lost in 2013 : The lives they lived .
Allen H. Neuharth championed USA Today against a skeptical board . His bold risk paid off as a journalistic success . `` The editors who called us McPaper stole our McNuggets , '' he liked to say . He died after suffering injuries in a fall at his Florida home .