Outraged Readers Cancelling SI Subscriptions

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by jon1856

The story/history of the Swim suit issue via Slate:
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit IssueAn intellectual history.

By Bryan Curtis
Posted Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, at 1:22 PM ET
http://www.slate.com/id/2159853?nav=ais

Something of interest to this thread;

"Campbell's 1978 issue proved a watershed moment for cheesecake. In Brazil, Campbell had persuaded model Cheryl Tiegs to pose for a throwaway shot in a white fishnet top, her nipples fully exposed. Somehow the shot made its way into the magazine. According to The Franchise,Michael MacCambridge's excellent history of the magazine, nasty letters poured into Time-Life headquarters—more than 340 subscriptions were cancelled—and the swimsuit issue reached new heights of ignominy. But in some ways, the Tiegs fiasco was also a logical endpoint. Barring nudity, the Sports Illustrated model had nothing left to reveal. Thus for the next few decades the editors had to maintain a careful balance: They had to make the issue seem much racier than it actually was, while still maintaining its wholesome aesthetic."

As for the OP/source of thread, all I can find is this:
http://mauricebroaddus.proboards24.com/index.cgi

http://sandrarosenews.blogspot.com/2...elling-si.html

Those and all the others I have seen have same source.

Makes you kind of wonder.......

I got excited at first...but then when I got to the end and saw Sandra Rose's name again.......

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I've been looking for more sources, and all that I come up with lead to allhiphop.com and one mention of Sandra Rose's blog. All of the articles are cut and paste about Beyonce keeping quiet about being the first non-model cover of the swimsuit issue and then a mention that "some readers think there have been mass cancellations"

It does seem to be percolating its way up the news, albeit very very slowly. At some point it'll be addressed by Sports Illustrated.

If it was false, I would think SI would've come forth by now...... no?

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

If it was false, I would think SI would've come forth by now...... no?

Maybe, but I mean its getting no attention, so whats to deny? If they make a statement it makes it a story. Right now its pretty much just a blogger story, and you can find anything you want on blogs these days.

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Maybe, but I mean its getting no attention, so whats to deny? If they make a statement it makes it a story. Right now its pretty much just a blogger story, and you can find anything you want on blogs these days.

You certainly have a point there. I guess the lesson learned (unless it's too early to learn one), is to find more than one CREDIBLE source before commenting........

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

I got excited at first...but then when I got to the end and saw Sandra Rose's name again.......

Not sure if you read the Slate link.

But I do agree with you about Ms. Rose's "link" to all of this.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Maybe, but I mean its getting no attention, so whats to deny? If they make a statement it makes it a story. Right now its pretty much just a blogger story, and you can find anything you want on blogs these days.

Agree.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

If it was false, I would think SI would've come forth by now...... no?

Ditto to the other responses, coming out now only makes more people aware of the rumors, it doesn't lay widespread rumors to rest. If it does work its way up and finally a national newssource gets a hold of it and prints it, they'll respond. I'd suspect that one of the reasons it isn't getting printed in a national source is a lack of sources. You can't just copy and past the same paragraph into an AP article.

If this really were true, I could understand people being upset if the issue became a "Music issue" That's not why they buy SI or the Swimsuit Issue. If it were about race I'd agree that it was stupid, but SI is, I would think, pretty racially diverse as a whole. This isn't a crowd that would freak out or that pays particular attention to Kanye and his views on biracial women. They mostly just want to see the women.

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Ditto to the other responses, coming out now only makes more people aware of the rumors, it doesn't lay widespread rumors to rest. If it does work its way up and finally a national newssource gets a hold of it and prints it, they'll respond. I'd suspect that one of the reasons it isn't getting printed in a national source is a lack of sources. You can't just copy and past the same paragraph into an AP article.

If this really were true, I could understand people being upset if the issue became a "Music issue" That's not why they buy SI or the Swimsuit Issue. If it were about race I'd agree that it was stupid, but SI is, I would think, pretty racially diverse as a whole. This isn't a crowd that would freak out or that pays particular attention to Kanye and his views on biracial women. They mostly just want to see the women.

I don't think many people would be upset with a black girl on the cover, however that Kanye pic may bother some. Interracial stuff is still a touchy topic within both communities, and especially when it involves such a divisive figure as Kanye. However, I still think its probably a situation where Rose or somebody's source found out that a couple people had called and suddenly it was a "flood of calls."

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

However, I still think its probably a situation where Rose or somebody's source found out that a couple people had called and suddenly it was a "flood of calls."

Do you think it's possible that there may have been a flood of calls, but management chose to supress that information? For fear it could be 'bad publicity"?

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Not sure if you read the Slate link.

But I do agree with you about Ms. Rose's "link" to all of this.

I did get through that article.....very interesting...I appreciate your posting it.

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

If this really were true, I could understand people being upset if the issue became a "Music issue" That's not why they buy SI or the Swimsuit Issue.

I never thought about it that way, Drole.... let me ask you this: Do you think if the issue promoted Guns' N Roses or some other popular, caucasian-mainstream group, they'd get the same "outraged" response? Because if so, then I'd agree that it's because the issue focuses on music, instead of swimsuits.....However, if not, then I'd wonder if it's because it's black music - which would place us back at square one.

I'd like to 'hear' your thoughts....

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

I never thought about it that way, Drole.... let me ask you this: Do you think if the issue promoted Guns' N Roses or some other popular, caucasian-mainstream group, they'd get the same "outraged" response? Because if so, then I'd agree that it's because the issue focuses on music, instead of swimsuits.....However, if not, then I'd wonder if it's because it's black music - which would place us back at square one.

I'd like to 'hear' your thoughts....

Well if it was Guns'n'Roses they'd complain about it being OLD. But they'd probably complain if it was Justin Timberlake. There are, in my mind two groups of people who read SI. Young guys, HS and college -30s and older guys 35 and up. I'd bet that most of their demographic is that older crowd since people my age don't tend to subscribe to magazines, we just read our parents' issues. You're going to get more problems with "young" music whether that's rap or more pop than with older music. My dad doesn't give a damn about Kanye, or Justin, or Beyonce... but which one won't he complain about? Beyonce being on the cover. If we're honest and acknowledge that the point was Swimsuits on hot women... then a "Music" issue doesn't make sense. I'm not sure I see a reason why SI would HAVE a music issue... but they do interview non-athletes. And I see SI's content and probably readership as more diverse due to the diversity you see in athletics.

Honestly, I don't think that there really was an uproar and cancellations. I'd bet that more reputable news sources have contacted both the company and employees and not found anything. And don't tell me a call center employee wouldn't comment anonymously if asked. If there was any proof this is the type of story people LOVE to read about so I'd see media being all over this.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by MzDoctaKay

Do you think it's possible that there may have been a flood of calls, but management chose to supress that information? For fear it could be 'bad publicity"?

IMHO-No.
Reasons-as posted before.

[MzDoctaKay]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Well if it was Guns'n'Roses they'd complain about it being OLD. But they'd probably complain if it was Justin Timberlake. There are, in my mind two groups of people who read SI. Young guys, HS and college -30s and older guys 35 and up. I'd bet that most of their demographic is that older crowd since people my age don't tend to subscribe to magazines, we just read our parents' issues. You're going to get more problems with "young" music whether that's rap or more pop than with older music. My dad doesn't give a damn about Kanye, or Justin, or Beyonce... but which one won't he complain about? Beyonce being on the cover. If we're honest and acknowledge that the point was Swimsuits on hot women... then a "Music" issue doesn't make sense. I'm not sure I see a reason why SI would HAVE a music issue... but they do interview non-athletes. And I see SI's content and probably readership as more diverse due to the diversity you see in athletics.

Honestly, I don't think that there really was an uproar and cancellations. I'd bet that more reputable news sources have contacted both the company and employees and not found anything. And don't tell me a call center employee wouldn't comment anonymously if asked. If there was any proof this is the type of story people LOVE to read about so I'd see media being all over this.

So....then overall, you don't believe this story hasn't any merit at all???

[Drolefille]

Without some sort of source... no. It's not impossible, and I do see the readership of SI as one who might have an issue with a Music issue. BUT I doubt many even noticed the articles no matter how much they tell their girlfriends/wives otherwise.

*shrug* I'd just have to see something more than one blog claiming it was true and other outlets copy/pasting that information.