• Editor & Publisher, Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:57 PM

One new role of daily newspapers may be as a distribution vehicle for other media. Case in point: Gannett distributed about 1 million copies of an Oscar-winning documentary through its newspapers on Sunday under a partnership with The Smile Train, an organization that helps poor children in developing countries.

The newspapers included free DVD copies of Smile Train's documentary, "Smile Pinki." Its subject is a young girl in India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct a cleft lip. "We chose Gannett because of the breadth and depth of its reach," says Brian Mullaney, Smile Train president. "Through Gannett's network of local newspapers, we are pleased to help The Smile Train raise support," notes Bob Dickey, president of Gannett U.S. Community Publishing.

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