[SL61]

This is what immediately crossed my mind too. I have talked to quite a few people from other countries who assumed that USA Today is our foremost national paper, like the American Der Spiegel.

I have no idea where the idea comes from though.

[emmelaich]

Because it's ubiquitous and small enough to conveniently carry. Source: I visited USA for the first time recently.

It's also of a much higher* quality than I expected. It's got something for everyone.

* my expectations were very low

[WhiteSource1]

I went to American University and it has a huge number of international students, both because of its location in DC and also because of its name, they thought it was the national university.

[dagw]

I have no idea where the idea comes from though.

It is one of the only newspaper of note without a city name in the title. Also it is one of the best selling newspapers in the US.