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I'm happy to be the first one to post on this (link in title)! It's a pretty hot topic on photojournalism and ethics. The short of it is that Sarah Palin did a photo shoot and interview for Runner's World for the August 2009 issue. Newsweek legally purchased this photo and ran it on their cover with their own headline.
Palin says it is "sexist" and "out of context."
The editor of Runner's World has issued a response, stating that this photo was purchased as a stock photo, without endorsement by Runner's World. (http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/sarahpalin/home.html - editor's note) "On the cover of this week’s issue of Newsweek is a photo that was shot exclusively for the August 2009 issue of Runner’s World, in which Sarah Palin was featured on the monthly “I’m a Runner” back page. The photos from that shoot are still under a one-year embargo, and Runner’s World did not provide Newsweek with its cover image. It was provided to Newsweek by the photographer’s stock agency, without Runner’s World’s knowledge or permission."
Although my knee-jerk reaction to whether or not this is ethical use was "absolutely not," a quote from a documentary photographer points out that they are using a "propped photo where Palin is an obvious participant ... to show how far out she is willing to travel on the road of self promotion." I think this is an important issue even if an extreme tactic.
3 comments:
I don't see where any ethical lines were crossed. If the premise is that the picture was used too soon by Newsweek, then that's a legal matter. But Palin took the photo and it is PG.
The biggest problem is that the only thing that makes Palin look like a runner are the running shoes. This seems to be purely about publicity and completly staged. If it's sexist, then she allowed them to stage it that way.
I don't see anything sexist. I see a woman standing in running shorts.
Is she that insecure about herself? When I think pornographic, hair in a bun and a fleece aren't usually what come to mind.
We are way, way, way too sensitive about sexuality in the media. I'm not at all understanding what is inappropriate about this photo. I have legs too - should I be ashamed of them?
If so, I didn't get the memo.
This photo is definitely not sexist. Palin just looks like she is about to hit the gym. Although she is a politician, this is just not your stereotypical conservative political photo and there is nothing wrong with it.
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