Below you'll see the Oct. 11, 2008, cover of Newsweek. As someone in the know, Newsweek did not retouch it in any noticeable way, making it barely press-ready. While onscreen versions always lose something, click on the images to see a larger, better snapshot (or right-click on each image and save image to desktop). What may not be readily apparent in the 'original' cover is the upper-lip moustache most women have (including models), blotchy, rash-like skin, bloodshot eyes, liver-spotted nose, and more. Any time you have an extreme close-up shot, our human imperfections are enlarged to the point of caricature. Which I believe was the point Meacham was trying to make with the unflattering photo.

I spent about 10 minutes on the 'after' cover to show readers how simple it is to make a bad photograph look semi-good, while not changing the essence of how the person looks. Keep in mind Newsweek's cover shot of Obama featured a brightly lit halo above and beyond his head giving him a 'messenger from God' look. Meacham's snarky cover story about Palin also shows he is completely in the tank for Obama and isn't embarrassed to hide it. 

Original photo

Few minutes in Photoshop

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James Monroe  - Ugh   |10-08-2008 20:29 I read the article and was disgusted by Meacham's barely hidden elitism that he uses as a weapon against Palin. They tried to make her look imperfect with that cover photo, and only succeeded in showing us that she is still a beautiful women who actually has more experience running a government than all the other candidates. Being a senator is not running the country, or even a state. It is a way to run the country right into the ground.

Leslie Winston  - People should boycott this rag!   |10-08-2008 21:36 It's amazing what a little effort can produce. I can't believe they'd use that photo 'as is.' I picked up the issue off the newsstand, and you're right, screen versions don't do your description justice. Meacham is also the managing editor, so it was his call to make her look as 'ugly' as he could. Unfortunately, she's strikingly beautiful, mustache and all.

Datsun 774  - Quicher Cryin Whiners   |10-10-2008 09:48 There is nothing wrong with the photo as is. She looks great. Newsweek isn't Vogue.

Rod  - photoshop   |10-10-2008 12:29 I think the photoshop copy is best as the phony picture is more like the person

Cindy  - But...   |10-10-2008 12:42 I think the point was how they treat Obama's likeness when he's on the cover versus Palin. He gets a halo and lots of retouching, she barely gets color-corrected. And yes, she is still beautiful.

WhatTheHolyHeck  - What's the problem?   |10-10-2008 16:56 The picture shows how she looks. Why should the magazine lie with retouching? There's nothing wrong with her appearance. I'm actually more disappointed in you that you'd judge her appearance by a few honest lines in her skin.

GK  - Journalistic ethics   |10-11-2008 04:37 It's actually a violation of photojournalist ethics to retouch a photo as you suggest. The photographer is obliged to report life as it is -- not as it appears when retouched.

Snork  - Liberal Media at it Again   |10-11-2008 23:45 Goodness, do I tire of the whining about the liberal media. So FOX news having an obvious right-wing bias isn't an issue, but any media outlet, including Newsweek, having anything resembling a bias in the other direction IS a problem? If we want to have a real discussion about the problems with media reporting, let's do it. But let's stop whining about the supposed (and non-existent) liberal bias.

Drake  - Interesting...   |10-15-2008 03:00 Did you actually read the article? Clearly you must not watch NBC, MSNBC or CBS. Obviously you do not read the New York Times or Washington Post or Newsweek. I'm not claiming FOX is unbiased, but I will quote Sen. Clinton, 'FOX News has consistently been the most fair in it's reporting of the campaign'. However, if you insist that there is no media bias even after it has been admitted to by NBC and the NY Times all I can say is keep on drinking the Kool-aid.

ActionsSpeakLouder  - Have they ever...?   |10-21-2008 06:26 Has Newsweek ever retouched cover photos of people in the past?

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