The Bucs have made news with their “Red” marketing program that targets female fans, and some have weighed in on the grammatical appropriateness of their “Siege The Day” print ads. No big deal, frankly. But I will take issue with the actual design and placement of those “Siege The Day” ads.
They’re not just on the sports pages, where they most obviously fit, but they are also found amid world and local news. That’s ok because you want to reach people. But the design and layout is inappropriate.
It’s not your basic, clearly defined, half- or quarter-page ad. No, these feature rampaging defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a good player and good guy, literally crashing through the copy–not just an opponent’s offensive line. The design and layout are beyond intrusive and insulting.
If there’s one thing that newspapers and those who advertise in them shouldn’t want it’s to ironically make the reading experience, already under siege too often with typos, even more of a challenge. Siege the marketing department.