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Runner’s World Distances Itself From Newsweek Palin Photo

by Rachel Sklar | 4:12 pm, November 17th, 2009

» 24 comments

Sarah Palin Newsweek Flag By now you’ve surely heard about the controversy brewing over this Newsweek cover photo of Sarah Palin: Clad in athletic gear for a Runner’s World photoshoot, wearing shorts, arm resting casually on an American flag. The non-controversial part is that she’d wear running gear for a Runner’s world photoshoot for a feature called “I’m A Runner”; the controversial part is that Newsweek used this photo, because it shows Sarah Palin posing in shorts, which some people think is sexist and inappropriate, but which I think is fine because she posed willingly for the series less than 6 months ago, and this particular photo was controversial because of the resting-on-the-flag thing and that well-illustrates a story a story about why she is problematic and that is headlined “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sarah?” which is a reference to a song that is basically about a nun going rogue.

But! Still, it is controversial, and Palin herself disapproves of it, saying that it is sexist and taken out of context. Now Runner’s World is getting in on the action with a disapproving editor’s note on the story:

EDITOR’S NOTE:
On the cover of this week’s issue of Newsweek is a photo that was shot for the August 2009 issue of Runner’s World, in which Sarah Palin was featured on the monthly “I’m a Runner” back page. Runner’s World did not provide Newsweek with the image. Instead, it was provided to Newsweek by the photographer’s agent, without Runner’s World’s knowledge or permission.

Well! I hope Newsweek is suitably ashamed of itself!

Screen shot 2009-11-17 at 2.48.15 PM Here’s the thing: Does Newsweek need the permission of Runner’s World here? I’ve reached out to them and asked, but I’m guessing they didn’t buy this photo in a back alley out of someone’s trenchcoat. Probably there were resale rights and Newsweek legitimately transacted for cover use that way. They do this every week, so that is my guess.

[Next-Day Update: As it happens, Newsweek didn't need the permission of Runner's World...but the photographer did. Jeff Bercovici at Daily Finance confirmed from Runner's World that they had a year-long exclusivity clause in their contract with the photographer, that was violated in selling the photo to Newsweek. Full story here; the post as written yesterday continues below, though the "why" in my next question is pretty well answered.]

Why is Runner’s World distancing itself from the photo? Yes it’s controversial, but Runner’s World declines to explain what part of the controversy it wants no part of. The fact that a photo of politician in athletic attire is on the cover of a newsweekly? So the only acceptable clothing for a politician to wear on a magazine cover is a suit, then? That’s sorta weird, you’d think a magazine about running would want to see the sport promoted across all areas of a healthy, active lifestyle. Maybe it’s because the image isn’t dignified? But then why did they publish it? Is it because the headline is “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sarah?” and not “I’m A Runner?” But then if it’s only appropriate to picture a person in running garb when they are being interviewed for a running magazine, why then does the Runner’s World 5-page interview contain all sorts of bits about Palin, the politician? Doesn’t seem fair, shouldn’t a news and politics magazine get to invoke Palin, the Runner? And by the way, if the two don’t mix, then why did you shoot Palin in her office with an American flag?

Sorry, Runner’s World, I’m calling you out: You’re just distancing yourself from the Newsweek cover because it’s getting bad press. But I cannot think of a single reason why you should be annoyed that your duly-published photo should be duly published elsewhere. If you have a reason, you might have done well to duly publish that.

And by the way, if Newsweek was looking to publish a gratuitously sexy image of Palin from that photoshoot, they would have done better to choose this one (coy!), or this one (wearing pink!). They chose the one with the flag — the one that was controversial not because it showed Sarah Palin’s legs, but because it pictured her casually leaning on an American flag tossed over a chair. It wasn’t the biggest controversy of the summer by a long shot — mostly a blip, really, hitting just before the July 4th weekend — but that was the news, such as it was, that came out of Palin Joggergate.

People I respect think this cover is sexist, and I have taken time to think about it — I’m not coming to this conclusion lightly. (I thought the Diane Sawyer headline in Capitol File a few months back was way worse, but no one seemed all that exercised about that.) And maybe it’s just because I remember this flag controversy from early in the summer, so to me, that’s what the photo was all about, and the connotations it has. But also — for a politician who makes a big deal about how she’s off going rogue, for one who makes athleticism and out-of-the-box-ness part of her personal brand, for one who posed happily for all these shots not 6 months ago, after she’d gotten her book deal, knowing the kind of scrutiny she is under — well, I am sorry, but I don’t blame Newsweek for taking the bait. Sarah Palin is a savvy, experienced grown up, she should take at least some of the responsibility for setting it. Refusing to do so is, in my estimation, the most un-presidential thing of all.

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MikeLI631

This is despicable.

Unfortunately, this is just another instance, when, the socalled “FIFTH ESTATE”, has soiled itself.

Did ANYONE say media outlets, should get “bail outs” ?

How about just letting simpering Fakes, like this outlet, just “pass on” ?
m

Pretty much the only thing I like about Sarah Palin is that she’s not afraid to hide her femininity. The less female politicians have to over-testosterone themselves just to make up for the electorate’s gender bias, the better society we have. This is no different than gay politicians having to hide that they’re gay just so that they can be elected.

Ironic, isn’t it? Sarah Palin, who arguably have a swell amount of supporters who despise feminism and staunchly believe it’s a woman’s role to stay in the kitchen, is breaking ground for women. It’s a shame that she can’t acknowledge what Hillary accomplished, or declare herself as a feminist, without her supporters raising pitchforks, however.
TfT

Poor Newsweek, they must really be getting hammered with comments. I wonder if Runner’s World got some negative feedback or questions about why they turned the photo over to the liberal rag called Newsweek.

The only people who thought Sarah should stay in the kitchen were the liberal nuts in the media (see Campbell Brown’s disgraceful rant).. Sarah did acknowledge what Hillary accomplished in her first speech when she was announced as the VP. What a shame that NOW refuses to stand up for conservative women and allow them to be consistently trashed and slandered. Has NOW even addressed the Newsweek cover or are they continuing to demonstrate that they are NOLW only?
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Spot on, Rachel. Shame on Runner’s World for not buying the full rights to the photo shoot.

However, it is no more sexist than Fox, MSNBC and CNN for the endless cleavage parade they call news anchors. It is sensationalist, however, and designed to sell magazines.

@m
Thanks for making the point that Palin, while proving that a woman can be a governor and another at the same time cannot cal it what it is for fear that her followers would freak out over a word. And THAT is a sexist attitude.
http://glassbead.info Magister

I agree that the photo itself isn’t sexist, except obviously in the minds of those saying it’s so and I appreciate you expanding beyond a few comments scattered around the site, but I do wonder how much “distancing” is involved in the short snippet from Runner’s World.

To me, it just sounds like they’re saying that they had nothing to do with the Newsweek cover, so future interviewees don’t get the idea that Runner’s World will sell you out; hopefully folks won’t fault them for someone else’s choice and for gosh sake, please quit calling and emailing your complaints.
MartiniShark

@m “Ironic, isn’t it? Sarah Palin, who arguably have a swell amount of supporters who despise feminism and staunchly believe it’s a woman’s role to stay in the kitchen, is breaking ground for women.”

Thanks for trotting out that tired liberal description that Republicans want women in petticoats and aprons and to stay in the kitchen and tend to the kids. They don’t look at women any other way. Except– I recall that when she was introduced as the VP candidate there was a number of commenters from the LEFT who proclaimed that it was unseemly for her to get into a Presidential race with a newborn-special-needs child. “Her place is in the home!” Like I had to remind those during that time, the child has a father as well, and a supportive family. But nice job marginalizing a woman back to the ’50s.
MartiniShark

This is no different than if a conservative magazine edition did a piece about John Kerry making serious political decisions on the wars and they posted a cover photo of his attempt at currying the youth vote during his candidacy by windsurfing. “Kerry: Blowin’ In The Winds of War”. It would be perfectly acceptable because he did such during a photo-op.

The reason for this whole flap over the photo is not the fact that she posed for it, it is that Newsweek elected to run with it as a cover piece on her book and political career. They intentionally did so as a smear, it is undeniable. The shots were meant for an athletic magazine, and in that realm there is nothing unseemly about them, save for the flag issue. Even if Newsweek had posted them inside with the story it may have been less inciteful. Using it on the cover however is blatantly an attempt to cheapen her image.
libra blue

Am I mistaken or is this the sixth post today about Palin and /or referencing Palin?
TinaFromTampa

It’s very obvious that Barbara Walters does not respect the former Mayor of Wasilla.
How surprising!
Asking questions that our girl Sarah didn’t have pre-programmed answers for.
How dare she?
Sarah was able to get out the well-rehearsed “it’s not on my radar” response re: 2012.
I was very proud of her!
She did stumble just a little when Barbara asked some question about Israel and the Palestinians.
I think we all know who’s side we’re on there.
*WINK! WINK!*
That was a really tough question that has nothing to do with Sarah’s vast experience in international relations.
I blame Barbara Walters for making Sarah look bad.
As to the “Runner’s World” picture, she did pose for it but that’s not a sign of bad judgment!
Maybe I did ridicule the late Paul Tsongas when he posed in a Speedo.
But, that was different!
Sarah is not only physically fit, she’s mentally prepared for the job too!
Anyone else agree with me here? (Besides you TfT!)
TfT

My personal internet stalker has returned again to demonstrate what an empty headed loon she is. Good evening NotSoAnonymous — now please go take your meds and get off to bed.

You are such a dolt — stealing someone else’s identity because you have no brain, stalking that person because you have no ilfe? Get over yourself NSA. I left tvnewser due to the attacks, stalking, and foul language. Now please, go back there where your antics and appreciated and applauded by your fellow lefty loons.
libra blue

TfT, Hi Tina, nice to see you! As you know I left TV Newser because it was out of control, but something tells me Mediaite is moving in the same direction.
TfT

It finally got too out of control for me as well libra, and now my personal stalker from TVNewser has found me here to continue her stalking. Yuck.
ImNotBlue

That’s really sad, TfT… someone needs to get outside more often… NsA needs a hobby.

ANYWAY… back to the story at large… I think the headline is most obnoxious part of the Newsweek piece:

How do you solve a problem like Sarah?
She’s bad news for the GOP – And for everybody else, too.

Really?! Wow… Newsweek putting their opinions on the front cover! And here I thought they were supposed to focus on hard news, not the opinion stuff… but apparently not.

Once you realize that Newsweek has stated its goals (in that headline) of attacking Palin, you realize that their choice of picture was also negative. They could have cartooned her, found an unflattering picture of her taken mid-sneeze, or otherwise found a way to distort her image… but instead they went with the Runner’s World photo. In context of Runner’s World, the photo makes sense (despite Ms. Sklar’s crowing about the “flag controversy” what wasn’t a controversy outside of the blue blogs, as her source link shows)… but outside of that, it’s obvious that Newsweek was trying to portray her as a bimbo.

Now women who consider themselves feminists should be outraged by this… they’re not, because most of them are also left-wingers, and therefore hate Palin and will ignore such things (we saw this too when Bill Clinton was charged with all kinds of harassment… all of a sudden those folks didn’t mind a little inappropriate talk in the workplace, because… well, he was Bill Clinton). It’s another attack on Palin… the picture, the headline, the article… by a supposed “news outlet.” Oh well… Newsweek won’t be around for too much longer, so consider this part of its farewell song.
TinaFromTampa

I’m with you there, ImNotBlue!
Newsweek clearly was trying to portray our gal Sarah as a bimbo.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have to try too hard to find evidence to support their claim.
SWWT

I guess I’ll just never understand all the hate for Sarah Palin. Almost makes me feel sorry for the poor woman.
TfT

The Women on the view weren’t too pleased with this, I think they are sick of they way women are treated, even though only one of them is a conservative. Even Whoppie said — cease.

The question is: Where is the leader of NOW? Does she not care about these attacks on Palin because she is a conservative, if so, then she needs to resign her position or rename her organization. It took NOW a long time to come out against Letterman’s attack on Palin’s 14 year old daughter, you would have thought they would have learned a lesson.

And INB, you are right — this is a “news” magazine blaring it’s opinion on it’s cover. Thomas and Meachum should be ashamed and shunned as a result.
ImNotBlue

TinaFromTampa says:
November 17, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Shouldn’t you be off stalking someone anonymously online? I bet all the guys in your DnD group are terribly impressed. Grow up.
Sunnyr

The smarmy scumbags who run this RAG are SO finished!! Evan *ickhead needs to publish an apology for this callous display of SEXISM! Go Sarah! You have MILLIONS more supporters than the crudballs at Newsweek have subscribers.
http://glassbead.info Magister

The pic isn’t sexist, unless that’s what you call it.

I’m no Palin fan, but I just see a middle-aged woman wearing shorts. I see my wife wearing similar clothes all the time and not once have I ever thought less of her.
Puter Boi

Even Joan Walsh understands what Newsweek was doing with this cover.

http://salon.com/news/opinion/joan_walsh/politics/2009/11/17/newsweek_sexism/index.html

I, as usual, am enjoying the circus….but I can see hypocrisy when it hits me between the eyes. If Ms. Sklar were truly candid, she would admit, that had Newsweek done this to a woman on her side of the political aisle, her hair would be on fire right now and she would be calling out Newsweek, if not marching in front of their offices.

OK…back to the circus….I enjoy the clowns.
shogan83

“MikeLI631 says:
November 17, 2009 at 5:58 pm
This is despicable.
Unfortunately, this is just another instance, when, the socalled “FIFTH ESTATE”, has soiled itself.
Did ANYONE say media outlets, should get “bail outs” ?”

Hi Mike. I just wanted to point out that it is not the “fifth estate”. It’s the fourth estate. Also, even though I agree with you (with friendlier language), I have to point out that you use way too many commas. Such as this sentence mentioned above: “Unfortunately, this is just another instance, when, the socalled “FIFTH ESTATE”, has soiled itself.” The only comma that belongs in that sentence is the one after “unfortunately”. The others are superfluous.

Aside from that, have a great day!
TfT

Good for Joan Walsh. Newsweek destroys themselves. Wasn’t it Evan Thomas who claimed Obama “was like a god”? Some “news” magazine that.
straitshooter

Newsweek is dying. Each week they ramp up the sensationalism New York Post style, thinking they just need an adrenaline shot when everyone can see they need a heart transplant.

Sarah Palin is a good-looking woman and a fantastic looking supermodel compared to anyone else on the national political scene. I don’t have an opinion on whether or not this cover was sexist. HOWEVER…

It is kind of amazing that a newsmagazine which John Meacham would argue is not biased would run this cover because of the language used. They didn’t ask “Is Sarah Palin a problem for America?” They flat-out stated she’s a problem that needs to be solved (i.e. dismissed from the political landscape). They state she is bad for the GOP and bad for America.

Does Newsweek have the public standing anymore to make such claims? Or is this simply the latest evidence that it is now on part with Huffington Post and Mother Jones, respectable publications which make no secret of their progressive/liberal bent?
TfT

Sheila Jackson-Lee also agrees with Palin and calls out Newsweek on its sexism. Good for her. Where is the President of NOW?

So Newsweek got the picture illegally? What a hoot.