Media trend of the moment: post-prison PR

We only have two examples so far—but given the swelling ranks of white-collar criminals, we’re ready to announce the birth of a new subgenre of PR: post-prison communications. You may have seen in today’s New York Times that shoe designer Steve Madden is actively promoting his release from the Big House in new ads, including the one pictured here, in which one of the creepy Madden girls wears an ankle bracelet, à la Martha. And then there is, of course, Martha herself, who is the cover gal on her eponymous magazine’s “Welcome Home” issue. (The cover shows her standing outside—doesn’t that violate the terms of her house arrest?—and holding a rooster. We’ll assume it was shot before her sentence.) We suppose it’s a step forward that any white-collar ex-con would admit to being away anywhere besides a tony resort, but since both Martha and Madden decline to mention the “P” word in their comeback communications, it’s unclear just how big a step it is.

—Posted by Catharine P. Taylor

April 5, 2005 | Permalink