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Time Magazine's most famous 'panic-inducing' covers
By AprillBrandon in Pop Goes the Culture
June 16, 2009

While people are still tsk-tsking national media for causing a panic about the swine flu, the over-hyped up doomsday panic tactic is nothing new. In fact, the Web site Reason.com has recently charged Time Magazine with being one of the worst perpetrators of "doom and gloom."

The Web site put together a Top 10 list of the magazine's most absurd, panic-inducing covers over the past several decades.

According to the article, in the 70s, Time caused a panic about occult rituals and what they deemed as the "Porno Plague."

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In the 80s, it was overpopulation and drug use. By the 90s, they were getting people in a tizzy over dirty words, crack kids, cyperporn and believe it or not, Pokemon!

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And by the new milennium, it was on to the Columbine Effect and obesity.

Just like Spidey, the media needs to remember that with great power comes great responsiblity. And Time is now realizing that apparently. According to the article, Time is dropping subscribers like "the mythical meth mouth drops teeth."

Comments


  • joseexist joseexist Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I remember a lot of those covers (Thanks for the link!).
    So sad, and true, that people react to what they see in print before they open the magazine. I understand Time must sell copies, but inducing panic the way their covers have done in the past is a gross irresponsibility. Maybe good for their ratings, but bad for the health of the population. Would you agree that a lot of their covers have been a source of stress?
    Oh yeah, HAPPY B-DAY!!!!!!

    June 17, 2009 at 10:02 a.m.

  • OLDRUSTYBUCKET1 OLDRUSTYBUCKET1 Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    APRILL: Sorta like Jerry Falwell saying tele-tubbies were queer?

    June 16, 2009 at 11:09 p.m.

  • Grim Grim Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Forgot to mention Pokemon video games. Although, Pokemon Snap! was just too many kinds of awesome!!

    June 16, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.

  • Grim Grim Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Pokemon was addictive. Glad I kicked that habit. When it became mainstream I tuned out. Too many things to keep up with, shows, cards, movies, action figures, clothes, food, even Pokemon themselves.

    For me, there will always just be 151 Pokemon! Always!!

    June 16, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.