El Reg insults 'millions of Irish Catholics'

Orange masthead on St Patrick's Day? Oops...

It won't have escaped the attention of our US readers that El Reg Stateside today features an orange masthead - part of a temporary sponsored makeover.

Well, it's fair to say that the Strategy Boutique could have brainstormed that one bit more thoroughly. One reader was moved to protest: "Why are you insulting millions of Irish Catholics on St. Patrick's Day? What's your point?"

Another thundered: "Thanks for going 'Orange' on St. Patrick's Day. If you thought this was funny, you are wrong. Now I know you aren't the kind of people I want to do business with."

Long-term readers will be aware that we have in past celebrated St Patrick's Day with a resolutely emerald green masthead, so it was never our intention to cause offence.

As our VP for Masthead Management Resources and International Branding put it, before fleeing to the pub for some much-needed Guinness: "Oops." ®