We've all seen our fair share of publishing mishaps, but the Jane Magazine scandal remains one of the most awkward. What started as an empowering "Guide to Boobs" quickly devolved into a privacy nightmare. It’s a classic cautionary tale of how one simple administrative error can derail a major project.
Editors at Jane magazine had to cancel a “Guide to Boobs” after asking female colleagues to anonymously bare their breasts for photographers, but then carelessly divulging their identities in a mass e-mail. After the names of the faceless models got out, red-faced Jane editrix Brandon Holley not only canceled the shoot, she killed the story as well.
The Guide to Boobs Casting Call
The mammary maelstrom began when Jane’s booking editor, Heather Catania, sent an e-mail to female magazine and newspaper editors and reporters in the New York area. “I’m casting 50 pairs of breasts for Jane’s ‘Guide to Boobs,’” she cheekily wrote. “I am looking for 50 women who are willing to get topless. All colors, shapes, and sizes please! You MUST agree to have your naked breasts photographed. You will be shot from the neck down and will not be identified.”
Catania added that participants would be asked to “tell us in one sentence something about your breasts (why you love them, why you hate them, etc.)” and would receive $50, which was said to be enough to buy a very nice new bra. For many in the industry, this seemed like a fun way to celebrate body positivity, similar to how we discuss body confidence today
| Promise | The Reality | | :--- | :--- | | Complete Anonymity | Names leaked in a mass email | | Professional Environment | Administrative blunder caused chaos | | $50 Stipend | Shoot canceled before completion |A Costly Administrative Error
But the 53 women who agreed to whip off their tops at the NoHo Studio this weekend got a surprise on Wednesday when they were accidentally outed, a situation that highlighted the risks of mishandling Jane boobs content. A clueless Jane staffer sent out a call sheet to the participants that listed all their names.
- A safe space to share their stories.
- Professional photography for a major publication.
- A chance to contribute to a guide about women's health and bodies
The Fallout and Apology
That mistake made Holley rush out an apology to all 53 women, telling them they’d been outed, according to reports from Women’s Wear Daily Gawker reported that the leaked list included more than a few Condé Nast editors and other high-profile media professionals who were understandably upset about the breach of privacy.
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