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Ad Age is raked through the coals today by none other than one of its own, Rance Crain - it's editor in chief.
The issue in question is a fake cover for SpecificMEDIA, which appeared on a copy of Ad Age distributed to about 1,000 attendees at @d:tech in New York. The cover in question contained an interview and no doubt various self-serving and I'm sure less-serious verbiage about SpecificMEDIA (second mention in post...PR coup no doubt!)
While you might think I'm going to jump on the bandwagon, I'm not. What's the big deal? Are we calling @d:tech attendees dumb? (Let me get back to you on that one :)) Was the circulation not controlled and in context? Was this not a different way to break through, compared to the usual page or spread or Infinity 22-page buy out? Could there not have been an integrated sponsorship in place by SpecificMEDIA at the event?
Look...if you think this is bad. I'll tell you what BAD is. I saw a copy of the New York Times (another MSM outlet with hard-won credibility) with a fake cover and headline announcing that this Fall, there will be a female President in the White House. This was obviously for ABC...and distributed at Grand Central to a WIDE and UNCONTROLLED audience.
I don't know about you, but perhaps this is a tempest in a teapot. We all know that editorial and sales don't talk to each other (read: hate each other), so what's the biggie? Publishers aren't integrated. Agencies aren't integrated. Marketers aren't integrated. Let's all be held accountable to the same low standards...hey it works for television ratings?
In all seriousness, it does underscore the tremendous pains that the print industry is currently undergoing and to quote Rance in his article, acknowledging the increasing role and influence of the blogosphere:
Not with cyberspace cops on the case, we discovered to our deep chagrin.
Welcome to the conversation!
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