Imitation, flattery, etc: New York Magazine's Sarah Palin story looks awfully familiar

Published Apr 26 2010, 02:12 PM by Carly Carioli

Well, this is awkward: NY Mag, this week; and the Boston Phoenix, July 2009

Back in July of 2009, Boston Phoenix staffer DAVID S. BERNSTEIN wrote an article about how Sarah Palin was about to rake in the dough -- a piece that examined the underbelly of the Conservative punditocracy in America, and explained how Palin, by becoming the leading figure in it, was poised to make a hell of a lot more money as a full-time free agent than she would as a half-assed Alaskan governor. The tease? "The biggest brand name in conservative politics is about to enter the burgeoning right-wing marketplace — and she's perfect for it."

We flew that story on the cover under the headline SARAH, INC. -- right next to a disembodied image of Palin's painfully-forced smile.

Fast forward to late April, 2010: New York Magazine staff writer Gabriel Sherman files a story on how Sarah Palin, CEO of the Conservative punditocracy in America, is making a hell of a lot more money than she would have as a half-assed Alaskan governor. The tease? "Sarah Palin is already president of right-wing America -- and it's a position with a very big salary."

But the New York Mag story is waaaaay different: for their headline, they went with . . . PALIN, INC.

They appear to have used the exact same photo, though.

Imitation, flattery, etc.

Filed Under: Media, Sarah Palin, journalism, Flattery, New York Magazine

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3 Comments

Mark I. Pinsky said:

The cover I wish someone had done during the campaign would have been McCain standing next to Palin with a bubble over his read, reading, "Say goodnight, Gracie."

April 26, 2010 4:12 PM
Hank Johnson said:

Similar or not, the Dollar Sign-S is one of the most tiresome typographical tricks in the book. Oh, and look, the New York cover is cleaner, less cluttered, more inviting and not weirdly photoshopped.

May 4, 2010 7:50 PM
sfdeda said:

Congrats. You both had the same obvious idea. Politicians more than ever now see themselves as a brand, just like pundits, journalists, experts, and anyone else out there trying to build up substance behind their name. It's not that similar, and not obvious plagiarism.

May 8, 2010 1:00 AM

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Filed Under: Media, Sarah Palin, journalism, Flattery, New York Magazine

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Imitation, flattery, etc: New York Magazine's Sarah Palin story looks awfully familiar

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Hank Johnson said:

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