This is a fact: Magazines once had balls and Ralph Ginzburg, the only American publisher to be imprisoned in a Federal pen for publishing a magazine (Eros to be precise), was the one who shined them to a bright finish. One of his most ballsy magazines was Fact, designed by Herb Lubalin, and devoted to peeling away the facades on many corporations, politicians, and religious institutions. And as you can see from the covers above and below, it was smartly designed without superfluous conceits.
The “Goldwater” issue below prompted a libel lawsuit from the conservative senator and presidential candidate. Ginzburg, an astute advertising-man-turned-journalist, could always produce recorded “fact” to support his controversial claims. But this time he erred. A federal jury awarded Goldwater $1 in compensatory damages (indicating
his reputation had not really been harmed) and $75,000 in punitive
damages, to punish Ginzburg and the magazine for being reckless.
his reputation had not really been harmed) and $75,000 in punitive
damages, to punish Ginzburg and the magazine for being reckless.
Why revisit Fact now? As magazines increasingly fall by the wayside, leaving what’s left, mostly in a neutered state, it’s good to remember that hard-hitting, issues-oriented journalism was possible when an iconoclast took the lead.
I know it’s splitting hairs, but Ginzburg was actually sent to jail on a technicality related to the book he sent early subscribers to Eros. He later told the story in a fascinating issue of fact:.
And of course, when fact: was closed down, he and Lubalin moved on to create Avant Garde.
I know it’s splitting hairs, but Ginzburg was actually sent to jail on a technicality related to the book he sent early subscribers to Eros. He later told the story in a fascinating issue of fact:.
And of course, when fact: was closed down, he and Lubalin moved on to create Avant Garde.
I know it’s splitting hairs, but Ginzburg was actually sent to jail on a technicality related to the book he sent early subscribers to Eros. He later told the story in a fascinating issue of fact:.
And of course, when fact: was closed down, he and Lubalin moved on to create Avant Garde.