'Newsweek' opts for Martha Stewart photo 'illustration'

‘Newsweek’ opts for Martha Stewart photo ‘illustration’

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Understandably, Martha Stewart has a few things occupying her that might keep her away from a Newsweek photo shoot. But that didn’t keep the news magazine from throwing her on the cover and proclaiming she’ll exit prison “thinner, wealthier and ready for prime time” along with a photo (illustration) to match.

Photo editors cropped her head onto a model’s slimmer body to create the visual effect, which even the New York Post knows is an ethical black hole (err, maybe they don’t). A footnote does appear on page three with the credits: “Cover: Photo illustration by Michael Elins … head shot by Marc Bryan-Brown.”

But that’s not exactly Clarissa Explains It All for the average reader. Another Jennifer Aniston on Redbook, you say? So do we, even if assistant managing editor Lynn Staley believes “Anybody who knows the (Stewart) story and is familiar with Martha’s current situation would know this particular picture” was a “photo illustration.”

They really should’ve just nixed the ethics question in the beginning, with a big banner noting “This isn’t the real Martha Stewart, and you should know because she could never look this tan in prison.”

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