Editor's Note: More than 40 readers telephoned or emailed us about February's cover, which depicted a dazed and confused man who had stuck a pencil in his head to illustrate a bad day at the office. The vast majority said the image was inappropriate, and many felt it was offensive. A few readers said it was effective. Here's a sample of letters we received:
Cover Our Industry Without 'Distasteful' Illustration
I dislike the photo on your February issue of Print Solutions. It's a bloody, distasteful illustration that, as far as I can tell, serves no positive or useful purpose.
It does get attention. Having seen ads in other publications and on TV, I realize this is the popular thing to do--get people's attention. But how long does an image like this hold our attention? I lost interest as soon as I saw it.
Is there anything wrong with wholesome and pleasing photography? No wonder we're a desensitized society. Now we have to look at distasteful photos on the cover of our business publications? What's next? How would you like it if your child or grandchild visited your office and saw publications like this all over your desk? Would it concern you? I'll bet it would be troubling to them.
Good luck in future publications, and I hope this doesn't signal the beginning of greater sensationalism in issues to come.
Dave Lund
Chairman/CEO
Professional Business Products Inc.
Lincoln, Neb.
During the past 14 years, I've found your magazine to be informative and interesting. I look forward to receiving and reading it, and usually count on learning something new from every issue. However, I was extremely disturbed by the cover picture. I was offended by the image immediately, and for once felt you have done our organization a disservice. It doesn't convey the professionalism and class I have associated with DMIA in the past.
It was so disturbing, I felt it necessary to hide the magazine once in my home so my children didn't see the image. Do you suppose we should cover the magazine in one of those brown covers used on other offensive magazines? Well, one upside would be that we would use more paper!
Terri Caruso
Outside Sales
Highland Computer Forms Inc.
Cinnaminson, N.J.
Your February issue cover was horrible. We get three issues of the magazine, and we just threw them in the garbage without looking any further. I'm not sure what the object of that cover was, but if it was to shock and disgust, then you got it.
Janie Jackson
Administrative/Software Technician
Progressive Business Solutions
Raleigh, N.C.
What does gore and violence have to do with printing? The lead article talks about being professional, but no professional I know would "self-inflict" over a sales problem; they wouldn't be professional with an attitude such as this. If meant to be funny, it wasn't. How unprofessional!
Skip Dvorak
Marketing Director
Folder Express
Omaha, Neb.
Why in the world would you design and distribute a cover like the one on your February 2003 magazine? For anyone who has had a recent accident or even knows anyone who has had a recent accident, this cover would certainly bring this to mind, like it did me. Surely, the talent you employ could come up with something that wouldn't be as gory as this for a printing magazine. Try a little harder next time.
Brent Johnson
Sales Manager
B&D Binder Index
Arlington, Texas
We at FRI usually find your magazine cover entertaining and relevant. An exception to every rule! The consensus here was February's was gross and inappropriate. We all do enjoy the magazine and read it from cover to cover. Keep up the good work--just keep the Freddie Krueger artwork in the archives.
Randy Cerny, CFC
Vice President/General Manager
FRI Resources
St. Louis
I rarely see anyone commend the writers and publishers of Print Solutions for their investigative reporting, editorials and award-winning covers, some which were truly awesome. Maybe the pencil in the head was a bit graphic, but it's different and certainly got my attention. We need to lighten up and laugh a bit. To the staff of Print Solutions, I tip my head (I mean hat) to you all. Keep up the good work.
Dominick J. Malgeri
President
Galaxy Solutions LLC
Shrewsbury, N.J.
Editor's Note: We appreciate and take seriously the opinions, both positive and negative, our readership shares with us. The cover image certainly wasn't meant to offend readers or push them away. We wanted readers to wonder "What is THAT about?" and open the magazine. We thought the photo clearly didn't depict real violence, as the man seems to be saying, "I'm so dazed, confused and frustrated that I stuck a pencil in my head." But we failed in communicating that message, as many responsive readers helped us realize. Perhaps a more humorous headline would have lessened the violent impact of the photo. Bottom line: We haven't hired Quentin Tarantino to develop cover ideas, and this cover certainly isn't the harbinger of a style change. Thanks again for your comments.
