Credit Crunch Business Profanity - The Economist September 2008 Spoof

By now we’re used to seeing vulgarity on news stands, but what if the Economist published something as profane as this spoof magazine cover? The mock September 27, 2008 issue reads nothing more than “Oh ####!”

That would be a shocking cover, but chances are, a lot of people might actually see it as justifiable in the turbulence of the financial crisis. Essentially, it sums up the state of the American economy in the wake of the credit crunch really well.

Hypothetically, would using profanity like this be OK for a major, much-respected business magazine? Would The Economist lose credibility in people’s eyes for doing this, or would they suddenly appeal to a new demographic?

It certainly grabs attention, and at this point, perhaps that’s what’s necessary for print media companies to survive.