A cover story featuring Sarah Palin has been blasted
because the interview was conducted over e-mail. Critics
accuse that there is no way to ascertain that Palin herself
actually answered the questions. In addition, the story does
not identify that the interview is being conducted by e-mail
until the 8th paragraph where it says, “who answered
questions from TIME via e-mail.”
The salon article criticizing the decision said, “An
e-mail interview easily allows the subject to avoid getting
tripped up by tough questions and completely ignore
unwelcome follow-ups. Palin’s media strategy is all
about limiting exposure and making sure every appearance is
on her own terms and in her comfort zone. That strategy
requires a press so desperate for the attention Palin
content generates that they bend over backward for her
— and it looks like it’s all working perfectly,
so far.”
The entire criticism can be read
here.
