More action to shield public from magazines

NASHVILLE — In response to customer pressure, Walmart executives have decided to cover some women’s magazines stocked in the stores’ checkout lanes. U-shaped blinders will cover the photos and language on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Marie Claire and Redbook.

The decision was made at the company’s annual shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, Ark., June 6, and it follows a similar decision made only weeks before to stop selling three racy men’s magazines — Maxim, Stuff and FHM. Walmart spokesman Tom Williams said the decision to use the plastic shields is “to accommodate those customers who are uncomfortable with the language on some of the magazine covers.” The company has been testing the blinders in some stores, Williams said, and expects them to be in every store by July.