Report: Newsweek jumped the gun by running cover photo of Palin in running shorts

Sarah Palin is a an attractive woman and this photo is very flattering. Why she objects to the image when it is used on Newsweek's cover tells you more about her than about Newsweek.

Hypothetical: Newsweek runs this cover image with the side text, "Sarah Palin: Biggest Political Phenom of Past 20 Years. Can Anyone Stop Her?" Palin would not have raised a finger in objection to this hypothetical cover.

That she opposes Newsweek's real cover is really an indication that she doesn't like the side text, the story inside, and/or the message the story conveys -- not the image. She has amazingly thin skin for a candidate for national elective office.

What Michael said.

But the pictures Newsweek chose to run inside are deeply sexist. See this:

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200911170027

Hi Again Dan

ST: Female Sexism in This Age is WHAT??

Dan we have Laura Croft (spelling?) many others whose names I can't even remember like GI-Jane that embellish this image of small Gals being better than all Guys anyplace, anytime. OK another one comes from Tarantino, yet there are more...

It is all historically screwy yet the USA public buys into this image.

As for her negative reaction, It is probably politics since she can strive to appeal to both sides of the argument. She is just being healthy and men are just being bad as usual.

Edit-01: Dan I found that doll not being so bad depending on ones POV. That doll was a Rambo or an Amazon female.

Hi Again,

ST: Female Life Progression

Sarah now looks great, a beauty queen with soft yet strong skin and a good smile. An Alpha Female. Yet I remember Hillary who looked quite good in spite of all the relentless, nasty and mean GOP attacks. Hillary now looks like a woman her age and is doing good things.. Will Sarah also eventually look the same and will it matter to the USA public?

Between this and the recent Cheney photo fracas, Newsweek reminds me of that old SNL skit about the late night radio talk show host who can't get any callers. With the phone lines empty, he gets more and more desperate and begins throwing out increasingly outrageous topics.

"Lesbian nuns! Who wants to talk about lesbian nuns!"

Needless to say, the phone lines begin to light up.

I suppose we should at least credit them for TRYING to sell some magazines.

The perception is that if it's a cover photo it was for a Newsweek shoot not some AP or stock photo they had an intern running around for.

It's another photo out of context that misleads viewers intentionally.

I agree with you Jon. And I go further. Using this photo of Sarah Palin to illustrate their cover story is yellow journalism - two words I never imagined hurling at Newsweek.

By using this informal and unconventional cover photo of a former VP candidate, Newsweek makes a disrespectful comment at best, and at worst, a derogatory one. Such informality subtly diminishes Sarah Palin, and would anyone featured in a similar piece.

Whether the photo was embargoed is secondary to its poor choice. Newsweek is solely responsible for its editorial decisions.

I disagree with Sarah Palin's politics, but having said that, I don't understand the unrelenting contempt and hatred that she incites in the media and elsewhere. There are others, such as Rush Limbaugh, who spew vitriol regularly, who don't seem to invoke such visceral, venomous reactions. I'd welcome any insight on this point.

Hi Donna,

Ignoring Ralph's kick in, again I disagree with you on this cover photo being SO SO Bad for Sarah in the current USA voting marketplace.

The stupid voters (even Dobson) that want her will want her more, and other voters will want her for other reasons. She got OK attention.

Donna's "unrelenting contempt and hatred that she incites in the media and elsewhere" Well to BEGIN with it was her screw up with Katie Couric (who is not a news person as far as I am concerned) and then Candidate John having to come on the TV with her so she would have a daddy. Beyond this factual point it is the News Media's Problem with Sticking to Their Stories. Sticking to Their Stories means that once the main line media (>90%) label a person they never ever go back and revise their opinions or analysis. If you remember they thought and were happy that Joe Biden might be another Laugh at VP

Yes, Rush and Severin are far worst than Sarah by a long shot yet since each of them makes media money they might be afraid of each of them. Whenever I tune in to either I can not believe some of the stupid stuff I hear. The biggest problem with the media might be rocking their own boat. Many professions have this problem

Anyway thanks back for another note on Ft Hood

Edit-01: Spelling, Grammar, Add to Sticking to Their Story