Our Controversial Times: Keeping Up With Sarah Palin

Rather than spend too much time analysing the current kerfuffle over Newsweek's stolen Runner's World photo of Sarah Palin splashed across their cover, I wonder if this is just another example of using controversy to sell magazines. Below, a list of links to catch you up and perhaps make a point.

• Newsweek's official statement. In response, Newsweek's editor feigns innocence and "gender neutrality", whatever that means, but really, they're looking to sell magazines. Previously, Newsweek used an extreme closeup of Palin's face, un-retouched. How many other controversial covers will we see in the future? It brings to mind the Barack/Michelle Obama fist bump cartoon on the cover of the New Yorker, which sold out the rag last summer. A larger perspective could include Sean Delona's New York Post cartoon of the monkey getting shot by cops that was compared to Obama back in February of this year.
• Palin posted her denouncement of the "out of context" photo on her Facebook page.
• Yahoo News ran a story about the hullabaloo.
• Newsweek ran two editorials. Evan Thomas's can be summarized as "Palin's Populist Campaign."
• Christopher Hitchens's could be called "Deconstructing Sarah."
• On Point had a good discussion about Palin's chance to remake herself. One guest warned that if Palin focuses on controversy and stirring the pot as opposed to solid policy points, she'll fade quicker than a one-hit wonder, to paraphrase. I'd say that it's more of a sign of our times that if you are not controversial, you are not newsworthy.
• Runner's World repudiated any involvement, although maybe they would reconsider, if this brings their circulation numbers up.