Last Ever Issue

In Poland, women earn 18.5% less than men and everyday sexism in public is still socially acceptable. It is a conservative society which objectifies and marginalizes women. Even for the westernized liberal Polish middle class, gender inequality is an abstract problem.

Gazeta.pl is a liberal news portal which wanted to change this. It is a brand which builds credibility by social engagement – a portal which starts mass discussions about significant social topics. Wavemaker, Mastercard, VMLY&R, and BNP Paribas were ideal partners as they have a long-term commitment to empowering women.

For 27 years, Your Weekend, one of Poland’s longest running and most read adult magazine, reduced women to sex objects. In December 2018, when the magazine was for sale, Wavemaker purchased it immediately and used it to challenge the culture of sexism and gender inequality. Wavemaker transformed Your Weekend into a ground-breaking magazine promoting diverse and progressive narratives of femininity.

Wavemaker teamed up with Mastercard, VMLY&R, and BNP Paribas and decided to create one very different, final issue of the magazine.

Published on International Women’s Day, it retained the regular sections and columns but re-imagined the content around sexual education, gender portrayal, equal rights, sexism and more. It was the symbolic end of an era and a spectacular beginning for a much-needed national conversation about equality.

A teaser campaign a week before the launch created excitement about the magazine’s last issue. Nationwide offline and online sales were launched on International Women’s Day. Gazeta.pl sold “The Last Ever Issue” through their publisher distribution networks such as Empik (a chain of 200+ bookstores), Relay/Inmedio/1 Minute (chain of 1000+ newsagents / convenience stores), publio.pl and kulturalnysklep.pl (online platforms owned by the publisher).

Sales were supported by an integrated campaign including OOH, cinemas, radio, social media and PR.

100+ copies of the magazine were sent out to journalists and influencers which ignited a fierce social media debate. Both Mastercard and BNP Paribas amplified the campaign in their social media channels. A content section was created at gazeta.pl. It publishes content related to sexism, equality and gender portrayal. This content is redistributed through the media channels of what used to be an objectifying adult magazine.