OBS! (magazine)

OBS! was established by a group of Swedish journalists, including Arvid Fredborg, Th Åke Leissner and Gunnar Unger, in 1944 with the financial assistance of the Enterprise Fund, and the first issue appeared in April 1944.[1][2] The magazine was published on a biweeky basis, and its stated aim was to promote a sound economy and free enterprise.[2] Arvid Fredborg was the founding editor.[1] The first editorial was written by Gunnar Unger who became the editor of the magazine in 1949.[2] The other founder, Th Åke Leissner, also published articles in OBS! under a pseudonym.[1] Ove Dahlstrand was among the illustrators of the magazine.[3]

The covers of the magazine contained caricatures of the leading politicians, movie stars and other well-known personalities.[2] The magazine featured economy-oriented articles, but its political content was much more prominent.[2] The editor of OBS!, Gunnar Unger, described the magazine as an "avantgarde organ in the anti-socialist propaganda."[2] The magazine frequently criticised the social democrat policies and supported the development of the Swedish industry.[2]

Following the first year OBS! sold 20,000-25,000 copies.[2] The financial assistance of the Enterprise Fund continued until 1952, and the magazine was financed by businessmen until 1955 when it ceased publication.[2]

OBS! has been modelled by various conservative magazines one of which is Contra.[4]