Many readers were surprised to open their Thursday paper and find a large photo of the reality-TV Kardashian sisters in place of the front page. The page, which was labeled “Advertisement,” was part of a four-page wraparound promotion for Sears.
A sampling of the reader calls and emails to The Times:
“I was disappointed to see the Kardashians on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. At first I wasn’t sure what story about them would be so important as to be front page NEWS. Of course it was just an ad. The front page of newspapers should continue to be about news. I’m very offended by this type of display, and I hope The Times’ journalistic integrity will win over this kind of insult.”
— Manny Rodriguez, West Hollywood
“Your having a Kardashian ad on the front page was cheap and tacky. This is the front page! Please keep such ads buried somewhere in the paper, not the front page.”
— Tom Runyan, Santa Monica
“Kardashians on the bloody front page! I know it’s labeled an advertisement. But, come on. How does putting these three on a mock front page jibe with your purported mission to be a respected news organization. How serious can we take your editorial work, your coverage and your opinions, in light of such a shallow display?”
— Earl Plummer, Torrance
“Today’s fake front page with the Kardashians on it was horrifying. I opened my front door and was greeted by them in all their leopard splendor. I know it is just an ad, but honestly! You are losing credibility by pulling such cheap stunts.”
— Cinzia Zanetti, Los Angeles
“No way should an advertisement overshadow or cover the front section of a newspaper. The way it was done, with ‘Los Angeles Times’ at the top and ‘Advertisement’ in small print, makes it seem that the ad is the first page of your newspaper. It makes it seem that these Kardashian people, and all of their endorsed paraphernalia, are more important than the news!”
— Laura Marro, Burbank
Readers weighed in on Twitter too….
Overheard on Twitter
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Twitter users weighed in on Thursday’s Sears promotion that featured the Kardashians:
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HATE it when an ad is placed to look like the front page of the newspaper. Woke up to the Kardashians on the front page of @latimes. UGH
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Really @SEARS? A Kardashian ad buyout for the front page of the @LATimes? Yea, ’cause world issues aren’t news. http://t.co/u953Ued2
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Just came by today’s print edition of @LATimesw the faux Kardashian-loaded cover page; my honest reaction “Wha…. UGH!”
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Someone in marketing seems to have spilled kardashian all over Page One of today’s LA Times. Ick. http://t.co/NBRSD742
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Opened my #LATimes this morning to find the #Kardashiansisters plastered across the front page. Isn’t that a sign of the apocalypse?
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Wow. Slow news day for @latimes. Kardashians as the entire front page? Really…? #fb http://t.co/rJ4PfMci
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Why was the front section of my LA Times wrapped in #Kardashians? I know, I know. Money. I was still offended.
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Though I do enjoy the stunning photo of the Kardashian sisters on the front page of the LA times, they do know we’re in a war, right…
This column was originally published on LATimes.com on Sept. 15, 2011.