‘Any Respectable Magazine Should Be Doing a Little Retouching’

The magazine industry is no stranger to Photoshop controversies, but this is a first.

During a discussion about Newsweek’s Sarah Palin cover on—what else?—Fox News, Andrea Tantaros, a Republican media consultant, said she is outraged over the cover because—get this—Newsweek opted not to retouch Palin’s photo:

“This cover is a clear slap in the face at Sarah Palin. Why? Because it’s unretouched. It highlights every imperfection that every human being has, but we’re talking unwanted facial hair, pores, wrinkles. This is a gross slap in the face to Sarah Palin.”

Fox News’ Megyn Kelly: “Any respectable magazine should be doing a little retouching.”

Click here to watch the video

I felt compelled to consider Bill O’Reilly’s argument that Newsweek under editor Jon Meacham has swung far to the left. But to condemn Newsweek for not retouching a photo, viciously exposing—wait for it—pores is, frankly, insane. It’s a bleeping news magazine!

This debate, by the way, wasn’t merely relegated to off-hours on the Fox News Channel—Tantaros appeared last night on CNN’s Larry King Live to make the exact same argument.

"What do you think about Palin's pores, gang?"

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By Dylan Stableford --

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Oh, the humanity!

Submitted by SJK on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:35.

My favorite part of this (insert rude expletives here) is the irony of the complaints in light of the headline: "She's One of the Folks." Sarah Palin has pores? So do I. Need I say more?

Pores. Sheesh. Maybe they

Submitted by Lisa Romeo on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 12:17.

Pores. Sheesh. Maybe they should have brushed out her earring, earrings are frivolous, no? Maybe she shouldn't be smiling so broadly - surely Photoshop could make her appear more serious. Maybe her teeth shouldn't be so white; a vp who whitens her teeth must be vain, no? What about the dimples, maybe they should have airbrushed those out too, dimples being too cutesy? Oh and... But wait - I thought her main appeal was that she was "just folks, just like one of us". Us have pores.

Newsweek

Submitted by Don Seckler on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 12:32.

It's a very sad statement that this issue is even discussed in any media. It points to the U.S. population's ongoing ADD and refusal to focus on anything that matters. I bet Joe six pack would say, "You Betcha, the liberal media attacks Palin again."

Silly comment, serious point

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 16:05.

This is obviously a silly statement on the surface. Yet the real issue is, are various candidates treated in the same way. Are all the Obama covers totally unretouched? If so, fair play. If not, bias. Are the photos themselves balanced in composition? I think the Palin off-center closeup was intended to look a little disturbing or uncomplimentary, though this is just my impression and it is possible this is not the case. Conversely, while I cannot say that I have scrutinized every Newsweek cover, I seem to recall one with Obama looking like he was posing for the sculpture for the Obama Monument. Another example (like many) where both sides are probably wrong. It's a stupid thing to complain about yet I suspect there is in fact bias at play as well.

Really?!

Submitted by QK on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 15:24.

Andrea Tantaros should be outraged at Palin's handlers not Newsweek. It is the publications every right to print the image the way they see fit, especially if Palin's handlers allowed them to have cart blanche with image and did not insist on any preconditions.

Newsweek slammed for not Photoshopping Sarah Palin.

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