The latest issue of Time Out New York has a fairly compelling and gender-bending photo looking out at you along with a headline that screams, “Secret Lives of New Yorkers!”
What kind of secrets would your neighbor on the subway be harboring, you ask? Well, for instance, that nice, devout Muslim is such a raging alcoholic, he can’t even give it up for Ramadan. And you probably wouldn’t expect that prim ad exec to have recently been named the undefeated women's champ on the Brooklyn pro wrestling circuit.
Basically, the magazine boasts personal stories of New Yorkers that are bizarre, intriguing and just downright sad. Besides the stories, you also have a plethora of Post-Its to flip through to make you feel a bit better about your life.
And, picking up where last year’s issue left off, the website provides updates to some of these secretive New Yorkers, like the family guy/orgy enthusiast and the teacher/go-go dancer. In these updates, they divulge just how stealthy it was of them to share their alter egos and secret behaviors with a widely-read magazine*.
*it wasn’t very stealthy.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Personal Tell-alls
- People seek a deeper connection through sharing personal and potentially embarrassing stories.
- Unconventional Identities
- Individuals are embracing and publicly revealing their non-traditional or unexpected traits, hobbies, and behaviors.
- Audience Engagement Journalism
- Publications are using personal and relatable stories to encourage reader engagement and create a sense of community.
Where This Applies
- Media
- Media organizations can capitalize on audience engagement journalism by incorporating personal stories that resonate with their readers.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Brands can create campaigns promoting unconventional identities and experiences to connect with consumers on a personal and emotional level.
- Technology
- Technology companies can develop platforms and tools that facilitate personal, authentic storytelling and connection in both digital and physical spaces.
