'Seventeen' Teaches About Tactful Whoring
So here's a question a reader just posed. Take a look at the "Pretty Makeup Ideas" feature in the December Seventeen, out last week, and tell us: Is it editorial or advertising? It sure doesn't say "advertisement" on it anywhere, and it's got a byline, which makes you think it's edit. But, then, it also has spreads like this one, which make you think it's got to be ad:
We're sort of assuming money changed hands for this, but, really, we have no idea.
Then again, we don't have nearly the critical-reading sophistication of Seventeen's target readership, who no doubt aren't tricked by this at all.
Check out the full feature — also featuring ads for, er, editorial on Estee Lauder, Clinique, M.A.C., and Chanel — after the jump, and help us understand.