For example, the Playboy people say they are keeping the feature interviews and the fiction section. And, of course, there will still be plenty of beautiful, scantily clad women. One spokesman put it this way: "It's going to be sexy, but it's going to be safe for work."
Some have chalked up the change in Playboy to a shift in sentiment among younger GenXers and Millennials. In addition to the easily available nudity online, they see porn differently.
In a blatant attempt to attract those demos, the cover girl for the first non-nude issue is social media maven, Sarah McDaniel. The art, too, is suggestive – made to look like a social media message.
There’s been no mystery about the shift. Playboy admitted early on that the change was motivated by both the universality of online nudity as well as moderated consumer appetites. While some are already comparing the “New Playboy” to GQ and Maxim, Playboy’s PR team is trying to reach even higher, comparing the new publication to Vanity Fair. Most folks aren’t buying … at least not yet.
But some are advertising. More family-oriented advertisers have shunned Playboy for years, but, at least one – Dodge – reportedly bought ad space. If they are successful in helping to change perceptions, expect more to follow.
For example, the Playboy people say they are keeping the feature interviews and the fiction section. And, of course, there will still be plenty of beautiful, scantily clad women. One spokesman put it this way: "It's going to be sexy, but it's going to be safe for work."
Some have chalked up the change in Playboy to a shift in sentiment among younger GenXers and Millennials. In addition to the easily available nudity online, they see porn differently.
In a blatant attempt to attract those demos, the cover girl for the first non-nude issue is social media maven, Sarah McDaniel. The art, too, is suggestive – made to look like a social media message.
There’s been no mystery about the shift. Playboy admitted early on that the change was motivated by both the universality of online nudity as well as moderated consumer appetites. While some are already comparing the “New Playboy” to GQ and Maxim, Playboy’s PR team is trying to reach even higher, comparing the new publication to Vanity Fair. Most folks aren’t buying … at least not yet.
But some are advertising. More family-oriented advertisers have shunned Playboy for years, but, at least one – Dodge – reportedly bought ad space. If they are successful in helping to change perceptions, expect more to follow.
Written by
Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces reporting, research, and analysis across thirty verticals — communications, reputation, AI visibility, public affairs, media systems, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era. Publishing since 2009.
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