Hillary Clinton made history Tuesday night when she became the first woman ever to lead a major party’s presidential ticket.
But national newspapers faced charges of sexism for forcing Clinton’s headline to share the spotlight with a photo of her husband, Bill Clinton, or the crowd, rather than a photo of the “change-maker” herself.
There was an obvious logistical reason that likely drove that editorial choice: Hillary Clinton didn’t appear in person last night in Philadelphia. And Bill Clinton won wide praise for a passionate telling of his wife’s life story, spotlighting her myriad achievements over a decades-long career of public service.
Hillary Clinton did appear by video late in the evening, but after the deadline had passed for many papers. A WSJ reporter pointed out that Hillary Clinton was pictured in the late edition.
Here’s the New York Times, which featured a photo of women supporting Hillary Clinton:
Front page of the day. Well done, NYTimes. pic.twitter.com/DH7g2SesuZ
— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) July 27, 2016
The Washington Post featured a photo of Bill Clinton:
Woman: Makes history as a presidential nominee
Newspaper: Puts her husband on the front page pic.twitter.com/dpsna6y9bd— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) July 27, 2016
USA Today ran with a photo of Hillary’s video appearance:
@moorehn USA Today did pic.twitter.com/bmcJWme7fw
— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) July 27, 2016
The Chicago Tribune ran with a pic of Bill with the headline “Clinton claims nomination,” but many pointed out that it looked like they were celebrating the “wrong Clinton.”
Wednesday’s front page with coverage of Hillary Clinton’s historic night at #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/PhAySTk5JU
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 27, 2016
More than a few Twitter users weren’t happy with the front pages:
simple proof of enduring sexism: no Hillary, or even a woman, on the front page after 1st woman nominated president pic.twitter.com/FvkxDfOAJK
— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) July 27, 2016
Same headline, but in 2008 and with pictures of the actual candidate, not just the spouse
this shouldn’t be hard pic.twitter.com/vhsbUevRWo
— Chappell Ellison (@ChappellTracker) July 27, 2016
Hillary Clinton, first woman to win the presidency! Let’s put a big pic of her husband on the front page! pic.twitter.com/hRzu9VxuSE
— kelsey mckinney (@mckinneykelsey) July 27, 2016
I’m so annoyed about keeping Hillary Clinton off the front page because women are literally erased from history every day, made invisible.
— Heidi N Moore (@moorehn) July 27, 2016
Did ANYONE on the copy/photo desk think, “This looks weird.”?
(via @baekdal @MichaelSalfino)#DNCinPHL pic.twitter.com/Lx6W11XNZE
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) July 27, 2016
Aside from substance: It’s “flak,” not “flack.”
Somebody better fax those newspapers and let them know they’re behind the times!
Unbelievable!
Un-fricking-believable!
There’s pics of bill, old berns, I’m surprised that there wasn’t another pic of trump!
It must be very difficult for newspapers to find photos of Hillary Clinton.
I know, right? Unbelievable that so many newspapers dropped the ball on this one - you have to wonder if they’d do it to a “male” presidential nominee.