Unlike today’s mass media, magazines in the year 1942, specifically July,  were united across content, audience, genre, age, etc. United they stood and proudly displayed the American flag on their covers to celebrate and educate their audience that the country was “United We Stand” as the country entered WWII. 

Picking up any magazine in July of 1942,  people felt patriotic. Regardless of the nature of the magazine, all magazines were dedicated to a campaign to support the war and unity among the people of the United States of America.
Compare this to today’s mass media, whether satellite or cable television, social media, or even magazines, readers and viewers feel that they live in two countries. No longer United We Stand, but rather Divided We Sit.

As we approach the elections of 2024, both presidential and congressional, I hope these magazines of July 1942, will bring back that spirit of optimism and freedom that engulfed our nation in the 40s. Of special note is the July 25, 1942 issue of Liberty magazine with General James Doolittle on the cover. This copy of the special collector’s issue is signed by the general himself. For those of you who are too young to remember him, he is the one who flew over Japan in what is known as the Doolittle Raid.

Liberty magazine, as I mentioned earlier, was but one of many American magazines joining forces in the United We Stand campaign in supporting the country in times of crisis. Other magazines included the general interest magazines Led by Reader’s Digest and National Geographic.

Even the children magazines joined the campaign. Jack and Jill magazine sported the American flag on the front cover and the Pledge of Allegiance on the back cover. The magazine used red and blue colors on every page.

Not to be outdone by the general interest and children magazines, women and men magazines did the same. American Home and Pic are but two examples of those genres. United We Stand indeed. When the mass media were a force to unite and not divide. For what it’s worth, I blame the 24/7 cable news channels with the beginning of division in the country that was then rapidly accelerated by social media.

I recall my former journalism professor telling us one day, “if everyone thinks that he or she is a journalist, then no one is a journalist.” That is the beginning of our problem and that’s why divided we sit in front of our phones, tablets, and the many cable and satellite channels. I hope it is not too late to be United We Stand, because the alternative is nothing short of a disaster.

As always keep in mind that if you would like to take a dive into the “oldies but goldies” magazines of the past, feel free to reach to John Henry at the Special Collections division of The University of Missouri Libraries and ask for the  Samir Husni Magazine Collection.

Until the next musing, stay tuned …

All the best

Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni