By now we’re used to seeing vulgarity on news stands, but what if the Economist published something as profane as this spoof magazine cover? The mock September 27, 2008 issue reads nothing more than "Oh ####!"
That would be a shocking cover, but chances are, a lot of people might actually see it as justifiable in the turbulence of the financial crisis. Essentially, it sums up the state of the American economy in the wake of the credit crunch really well.
Hypothetically, would using profanity like this be OK for a major, much-respected business magazine? Would The Economist lose credibility in people’s eyes for doing this, or would they suddenly appeal to a new demographic?
It certainly grabs attention, and at this point, perhaps that’s what’s necessary for print media companies to survive.
Credit Crunch Business Profanity
The Economist September 2008 Spoof
Trend Themes
1. Shocking Covers - Opportunity for print media companies to grab attention and survive in the digital age.
2. Justifiable Profanity - Potential for major business magazines to appeal to a new demographic in times of financial crisis.
3. Turbulence Symbolism - Disruptive innovation opportunity for magazines to effectively represent the state of the economy.
Industry Implications
1. Print Media - Potential for print media companies to utilize shocking covers to attract readers in the digital age.
2. Business Magazines - Opportunity for business magazines to experiment with profanity to attract new audience during financial crises.
3. Economic Journalism - Disruptive innovation opportunity for economic journalism to effectively symbolize the turbulence in the economy through cover designs.