Harper’s Bazaar could be in some major trouble after disclosure of the fact that the Top fashion magazine played favorites in their editorials and fashion spreads based on who bought most ad space.
The practice directly violates Federal Trade Commission’s latest guideline for advertisers which explicitly state that a publication is obliged to reveal any material connections between a brand and itself if an endorsement is made. The violation gives FTC grounds for a lawsuit but it remains to be seen if the commission will actually pursue the case.