U.S. News & World Report Expands Consumer Business and Data-Driven Journalism in 2017

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Jan 16, 2018, 07:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a pragmatic, data-driven media brand, U.S. News & World Report strengthened its long-standing position as the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, attracting nearly 400 million unique visitors to its site in 2017.¹ In addition to expanding its editorial content with trusted, high-quality analysis around complex issues, U.S. News further diversified its consumer business and launched new products that better drive decision-making.

In an effort to help consumers navigate the issues important to them, U.S. News released credit card and loan platforms offering the best financial options for individuals and businesses, connected patients and caregivers with physicians, published a new, daily investing newsletter and announced a guidebook on business schools. U.S. News also expanded its civic journalism with the launch of the inaugural Best States platform and the forthcoming Healthiest Communities rankings, joining Best Countries in connecting citizens and business leaders to the private and public sectors. Whether it's deciding the best in health care, choosing a college, investing for retirement, purchasing a new car, or evaluating government progress, consumers sought out U.S. News' rich data, journalism and comparison tools for all of life's big decisions.

"Through a comprehensive understanding of the products that best serve consumers, as well as the data that make our journalism tick, U.S. News will undoubtedly continue to see growth in 2018," said Bill Holiber, President and CEO of U.S. News. "With an emphasis on credible, consumer-focused journalism and data-driven content, our mission is to empower consumers to take action for positive change, making U.S. News an integral part of every reader's journey."

Here are some of the 2017 U.S. News highlights² :

Health: One in six patients and caregivers chose U.S. News Health in 2017 to research the right physicians and hospitals and book online appointments by specialties and conditions. With over 4,500 hospitals rated and over 900,000 board-certified physicians profiled, U.S. News Health helped 180,000 people per day take actionable steps toward making a health care decision.
Education: Of the nearly 68 million visitors to U.S. News Education, 90 percent researched schools outside of the top 10 national universities and national liberal arts colleges. Through the expanded College and Graduate Compass platforms, students can further evaluate which schools are the best fit for them. Following a growing demand from consumers, U.S. News Education also added over 100 new online programs for bachelor's degrees as well as graduate programs.
Money: This year, U.S. News Money helped more than 40 million people improve their portfolios, research stocks and mutual funds, advance their careers and save for retirement.
Travel: Every day, more than 100,000 people used U.S. News Travel to plan and book a vacation or find the best cruises. Consumer interest in the U.S. News Best Hotels and U.S. News Top Attractions increased over 50 percent from 2016.
Cars: U.S. News Best Cars rankings helped nearly 55 million shoppers last year with their car-buying decisions. Engagement with autos advice content, including Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families, skyrocketed 60 percent from 2016, as readers look to a reliable source to answer their most important car-buying questions.

In addition, through custom analytics platforms Hospital Data Insights and Academic Insights, more than 600 hospitals, health care facilities, colleges and universities were able to benchmark their performance among their peers, perform competitive intelligence analysis and serve their patients and students more effectively. Lastly, U.S. News added new employees in 2017 across all areas of the company, including Technology, Product, Editorial, Data Analysis, Communications and Sales.

¹Based on total visits to usnews.com and from Adobe and Google Analytics.
²Based on unique visitors from Adobe and Google Analytics.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report