Editorial Confusion Continues At Parade Magazine

 In spite of appearances I really do not have a particular interest in picking on Parade Magazine.  But, you can look at this list of articles I have written to see why some people might think I do.  I understand that although Parade is one of the most widely distributed and read newspaper inserts in the world, it does not claim to have any particular corner on the market of serious journalism.  However, the success of Parade, both financially and in terms of readership and distribution, makes it pathetic that Parade does not do a better job editing their issues.  Individual stories are usually quite well done; the trouble arises when each issue is looked at as a whole.  Here is just the latest example of where they fall down the stairs when putting the magazine together.

The December 20, 2009 issue had an article by Emily Listfield on page 24 titled Improve Your Body Image.  This article was typical Parade fare, somewhat fluffy, but well written and informative in the sense that stories written for general public consumption should be.  I recommend reading it.  There is also an article on How to Manage Your Diabetes by Dr. Ranit Mishori.  This is also well written and informative.  The problem arises with what was on the pages surrounding these articles.  Here are a few examples:  Recipes for Molasses Spice Cookies; Chocolate Crunchies; and Cinnamon Pinwheels.  Also included are advertisements for frozen, prepared pizza; canned chicken broth; and improving your skin’s health.  All of these were full of white sugar, white flour, or salt, in addition to the myriad of other ingredients typically added to these kinds of “foods”.  There were also advertisements for Nutrisystem and Januvia, (a prescription medication designed to lower blood sugar levels).

Does anyone else see the absurd irony of the makeup of this issue of Parade?  In other recent issues there were articles on Ridding Your Body of Hidden Fat, and Fixing the Biggest Diet Mistakes.  Of course the advertisements surrounding these articles sell some of the biggest diet mistakes around.  I guess it could just be good marketing.  Put in advertisements and recipes for things that contribute to ill health, then add some advertisements and articles designed to help you live with the results.  As you can see from reading the other articles I have written about Parade, this is not an isolated example.  It seems to happen all the time with Parade.  Sometimes the juxtaposition of items in Parade is only somewhat amusing.  Other times, like this one, the inattention to editorial choices is disheartening.

Parade is publishing an article on Sunday January 3, 2010 telling you how to ring in the New Year by “Getting Healthier Right Now”.  I am sure it will be a good article.  I am also sure it will be surrounded by advertisements for foods that contribute to ill health and advertisements for medications to treat the symptoms resulting from the way America eats.  Such a New Year’s shame.