That’s pretty amazing, given that the New York Times claims to be the “newspaper of record.” Anyway, Digitivity doesn’t normally cover the Hollywood beat, but digital alteration of photographs, especially by news organizations, does fall with its purview.

Readers are responding to Horyn in her blog post on the New York Times. Apparently, the story of the resizing was broken by Gothamist, a New York-oriented blog.

Digitivity has sent an interview request to the New York Times. Below are the interview questions:

Interview (request) with Cathy Horyn regarding Christina Hendricks photo

(Addressed to Cathy Horyn)

I’m following up on a story which has gone viral regarding the resizing of the Christina Hendricks photo in your article yesterday. I wanted to give you a chance to set the record straight with a short interview.

As you’re probably aware, the photo of actress Christina Hendricks used in your article “Further Reflections on a Golden I,” (in which Hendricks was called a “big girl”) was resized to be wider than the original photo. The original photo at Getty Images (#95834707)

Original on the left, NY Times version on the right:

Christina Hendricks Golden Globes NY Times Digital Alteration

As you can see, there is quite a difference in Ms. Hendricks width between the two photos.

• Were you aware at the time of publication that the photo was doctored?
• Was the article (including photograph) approved by an editor, and if so, by whom?
• Do you know who altered the photo (if it was not you)?
• From whom did you receive the photo?
• Was either Getty or Jason Merritt (Getty photographer) notified that the image was being widened?
• Does the New York Times’ agreement with Getty allow for digital alteration (and specifically widening) of Getty photographs?
• Does the New York Times have a policy on alteration of digital photographs?
• Does your article run afoul of that policy?
• If so, is the New York Times planning to release a statement regarding the incident?
• Is the New York Times planning to apologize to Christina Hendricks? In writing? In the newspaper? Online? By telephone?
• Will you also apologize separately?

Resources

Cathy Horyn’s article on Christina Hendricks

Gothamist exposes Cathy Horyn

Cathy Horyn at BryanBoy blog

Cathy Horyn’s bio at the New York Times

Get Your Fashion blog post on Cathy Horyn/Christina Hendricks

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