"Nothing has changed more in the past few

decades than those things that influence Ameri-

can Life. [We live in] a world of ever-increasing

and ever-complicated influences. A topsy-turvy

world ajumble with color TV, chattering com-

puters, Pill-popping promiscuity, and a world

that Grandma would not only fail to recognize

but would probably drop dead in. Given all

those high-octane influences competing for our

attention, it is strange indeed to stumble upon

a newspaper with a highly selective nationwide

circulation of only 85,000 that packs any sort

of wallop other than when it hits the bottom of

the trash bin wrapped snugly around the day s

garbage. Women s Wear Daily is no general

release movie, no prime-time television pro-

gram, no household word.., but even its de-

tractors admit they cannot do without their

daily dose of WWD, for to most, WWD is

like a dangerous drug: mild at first, but steadily

more demanding.

"Who could believe a newspapcr that forces

readers to wade through a forest of zipper ads,

personnel changes in Texas department stores,

and death notices for upstanding but obscure