Steve Jobs Article and Skeleton Ad Placement Just a Coincidence?

**Michael Essany** · 09-13-2009, 10:16 AM

Image via Wall Street Journal

This morning, NBC News picked up on what, at first, was a small news story earlier in the weekend.

In their coverage of Steve Jobs and his return to the stage for Apple last week, the Wall Street Journal placed a Halloween ad for Grandin Road, a maker of furniture, next to an article about Jobs.

The financial paper ran an ad featuring a skeleton for a Halloween store alongside its story about Jobs speaking at the Apple event. Jobs' health has long been a topic of discussion and his up again, down again weight has sent Apple's stock tumbling in the past. Was the paper's move simply bad judgment or a poor attempt at humor?

That's the question on everyone's mind. Did someone at the Wall Street Journal intentionally place these pieces next to one another for "shock value"? The coincidence in question has a lot of people talking. And it isn't difficult to understand why.

According to Chris Matyszczyk at CNET:

The chosen picture of Jobs makes it seem as if he is declaiming to the skeletons, offering to sell the bony ones a new iPod or two. In fact, it looks as if the skeleton on the right is somewhat aghast at something Jobs has revealed. The new pricing, perhaps.

As a former editor and newspaper columnist, I understand the responsibilities of various positions at a newspaper or magazine.
Someone is always charged with the task of insuring that "unfavorable couplings" don't find their way into print - an article, for example, about the benefits of being a vegetarian placed right next to an ad for a big sale at the local beef mart. That's a big no-no.

How could this "oversight" at the Wall Street Journal have slipped through the cracks unnoticed? It just seems a little too difficult to believe.

Anyone else think so?

**A_DuB187** · 09-13-2009, 10:28 AM

I agree. Someone had a hand in that. Things like that just don't slip through.

**Zeal** · 09-13-2009, 10:28 AM

aAHAHAAJAHAHAHJKHDJ( IUY(*# $)(* (_*V)($ )_*(U( !!!!!!

**StealthBravo** · 09-13-2009, 10:29 AM

lmao. No doubt this was no mistake

**PlatoTheForms** · 09-13-2009, 10:31 AM

yeah the WSJ is a newpaper that shows the advantages of jailbreaking the iphone, now they make fun of steve...there's something going on lol

**JustinPizzle** · 09-13-2009, 10:39 AM

wow lol

**danielbonnells** · 09-13-2009, 11:10 AM

You guys really think so? I dont think they would do that...

**Go Gators** · 09-13-2009, 11:11 AM

What's the big deal? Jeez!

**Napoleon_PhoneApart** · 09-13-2009, 11:21 AM

I'm not buying into any conspiracy theories here. Crap happens.

**Blowfish64** · 09-13-2009, 11:21 AM

Let's hope there's some truth in it soon.

**agent005** · 09-13-2009, 11:24 AM

Lol maybe the Dev Team has some agents on the inside of WSJ =p

In seriousness though, while I think that would be an honest mistake, I doubt the WSJ would miss that one. Kinda big. Unless it was a last minute kinda thing.

But the pairing is hilarious

**whereswaldo** · 09-13-2009, 01:05 PM

probably a coincedince, but funny either way

**ultimatexpka** · 09-13-2009, 01:34 PM

Has to be fake, i don't think they are dumb enough to make one ad to make fun of the other, theres some psycho conspirators out there...

**angiepangie** · 09-13-2009, 01:45 PM

LMMMAAAOOOOOOO.
Love it

**Kiserai** · 09-13-2009, 02:59 PM

Yeah, either somebody was really asleep at the wheel on this one or they thought it would be funny.

And it is funny, so maybe that helps weight the argument towards intentional placement of the ad right there.

Regardless, I'm sure there's an employee (or 10) at WSJ who've been in and out of some VERY tense meetings with their bosses.

**GmAz** · 09-13-2009, 03:47 PM

Wow, Jobs can mock Microsoft wth their commercials, but someone takes a jab at Apple and the world ends. Who gives a ****, he does look freakishly skinny. It is funny

**nikhilr51** · 09-13-2009, 05:04 PM

I think its just a mistake. The guys at the newspaper probably dont know so much about steve jobs like most of the users on here so he wouldnt have made the connection between Steve and a Skeleton. Notice how only Apple blogs picked up on this?

**angiepangie** · 09-13-2009, 05:07 PM

Steve Jobs has been all over the news and tabloids...
I'm sure they would've known..
If not then they're really lousy at their job!

**1shuttle1** · 09-13-2009, 07:05 PM

In the words of Larry the Cable Guy "That's funny, I don't care who you are". Besides do you think Steve Jobs gives a Sh** what the WSJ prints. I will say someone had a big set to do that. Definitely not an over site.

**rwin84** · 09-14-2009, 06:52 AM

Thats just comedy! X)

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