Doctoring news photos is generally an unforgivable ethical lapse, but Newsweek is getting a bum rap for its cover photo of Bobbi McCaughey, the mother of the septuplets.
McCaughey's smile, let us be frank, is unlikely to get her any work doing toothpaste commercials. By computer enhancement, Newsweek straight-en-ed and whitened her teeth for the photo, for which Newsweek is taking a beating at the hands of assorted media critics.Unlike these critics, McCaughey, a seamstress until becoming a full time mom, was not of an income level to indulge herself in cosmetic ortho-don-tics. And being a cover girl after the ordeal of childbirth, let alone seven times over, is a lot to ask of any woman.
Newsweek should be forgiven - if not emulated - for what was a gallant courtesy to a new mother. But flowers would have been better.