"Bro bibles like GQ, Esquire and Playboy seem poised to do a backpedal of Michael Jackson moonwalk proportions from the formula that kept them perched at the publishing pinnacle for a half-century," according to a Nov. 2 story that ran on the New York Times. The same, however, cannot be said of Mel Magazine.

Produced by Unilever-owned Dollar Shave Club, Mel Magazine not only seems to be continuing the path laid out by those more traditional publications, but to be maintaining standards of journalism and quality that others have had to sacrifice. Yes, there's still a bit of "bro" tone in there, but it is too much? What are the details that really make the difference? And what can other brands -- even those who aren't targeting a specific demographic like men -- learn from Mel Magazine? I explore these questions and more in this first full episode of The Owned Media Observer. 

Notes: 

Mel Magazine: https://melmagazine.com 

(FYI: I make a comment later in the episode about not seeing a lot of LGBTQ content. I've since learned there's actually a whole section of such content here: https://melmagazine.com/?s=LGBTQ). 

NYT: As Men Are Canceled, So Too Their Magazine Subscriptions: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/style/mens-magazines.html

'Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,' Gay Talese: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a638/frank-sinatra-has-a-cold-gay-talese/

About the host: https://ShaneSchick.com