Men's Vogue Defies Industry "Rule Of Thumb" With Frequent Black Cover Subjects

Portfolio   |  Jeff Bercovici   |   November 16, 2007 07:33 AM


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The magazine industry has found an unlikely champion of diversity: Men's Vogue. While other magazines shy away from putting African-Americans on the cover in the belief that they don't sell as well, the new Conde Nast men's magazine has devoted four of its 12 covers so far to black men: Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, Denzel Washington and, in December, Will Smith.

Is this just a statistical anomaly, or is Men's Vogue courting black readers the way corporate cousin Details cultivates a gay audience: not exclusively, but purposefully?

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- init I'm a Fan of init 2 fans permalink

Onslaught of black men? Black men are becoming a hit since weak white men run America; dollar down? Power has many meanings, and not necessarily in one capsule.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:56 PM on 11/16/2007
- Bobleblah1 I'm a Fan of Bobleblah1 21 fans permalink

Most people are so used to seeing an onslaught of negative depictions­/reporting­/images of Black men that it has just become a part of the American fabric. The level of racial disrespect by the media that just goes unchallenged is pretty crazy.
I guess that its a good thing that one publication choses not to vilify black men.
That said, I'm not holding my breath waiting for others to follow suit.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:46 PM on 11/16/2007
photo

All those nice glossy magazines are in the
business of sucking up to/idolizing rich
people. Why? So their sponsors can sell
cars, diamonds, and whatever other crap
they're pushing THIS week. If they can
get people to pick the thing up, then
they can subject the reader to 50 pages
of ads. Don't forget the fold-out cologne
samples, prescription drugs, etc., it's
all just crass marketing. They should call
it BuyMoreCrap! or something...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:25 PM on 11/16/2007
- Ginzaman I'm a Fan of Ginzaman 12 fans permalink

What's really sad is that we're having this discussion at all. Both Will Smith and Tiger Woods are mega millionaires, successful, have hot wives and great kids. YET, they're African American (Tiger Woods says otherwise. But that's for another post). It just ties into the stupid black movies don't make money crap either. What the studios aren't saying when the say that is a movie with a hot African American couple doesn't make money. And a African American guy/white woman as leads still isn't tolerated. Will Smith was quoted as saying this in Time magazine. But naturally he had to be unnamed at the time so as not to severly hurt his career.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:15 AM on 11/16/2007
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