Newsweek's latest cover (circa 1965)Happy to report, that there are signs of intelligent life at Newsweek.
I recently received the March 26 & April 2, special double issue. Admittedly, it's only slightly thicker than recent issues of the page-depleted and advertisement anorexic publication.
As a loyal fan of Mad Men, I was immediately sucked into the front cover, featuring the hotshots of Sterling Cooper returning to work in a (working*) elevator. It was then that I realized Newsweek was taking the 1960s advertising agency theme one step further.
The magazine itself has gone back to an earlier format from the 1960s. There are many current stories, but also pairings with retro-content from 50 years ago.
As a carefully stirred punchline, many of the advertisements have been reworked to emulate ads that may have very well been created by Don Draper and company.
New car in retro layoutMy favorites include:
- Dunkin' Donuts with there own adaptation of the Michelin Tire Man–an über-hero with a coffee cup midsection, a donut head and cruller appendages.
- Allstate has continued their ‘Mayhem’ campaign but with an ad completely reminiscent of the Vietnam War years.
- Domtar paper company, totes the value of paper in enhancing a person's ability to read in an increasingly screen-friendly present–an obvious counterattack to a society that is quickly moving from ink to glowing pixel.
"Studies show that you'll read 30% faster while retaining more information"–when you choose paper over pixels, says the Domtar paper company.Unfortunately, for Domtar’s sake, the pulp issue of Newsweek is also announcing their new digital iPad edition. Perhaps another wooden stake to the heart of paper pushers.
It's about time!
Or perhaps TIME, NEWSWEEK’s arch-rival, who has been iPad app happy for quite sometime.
If you feel the urge to read about “the original madman” George Lois, or have interest in creating the perfect martini, please pick up a new/old issue at either your favorite newsstand or iTunes location. – Doug.
*Who will ever forget the episode with the multiple martini and raw oyster lunch?