CBS says photo tech altered Couric image

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 1, 2006 -- NEW YORK -- No, Katie Couric didn't suddenly lose 20 pounds.
The incoming ''CBS Evening News'' anchor appears significantly thinner in a network promotional magazine photo thanks to digital airbrushing.
The touched-up photo of Couric dressed in a striped business suit appears on the inside of the September issue of Watch!, which is distributed at CBS stations and on American Airlines flights.
CBS News President Sean McManus said he was ''obviously surprised and disappointed when I heard about it.''

The original picture was snapped in May and was widely circulated to the media as an official photo of Couric.
Couric, 49, said she hadn't known about the digitally reworked version until she saw the issue. The former NBC ''Today'' show co-host told the Daily News, ''I liked the first picture better because there's more of me to love.''
Couric debuts Tuesday in the evening news position. She succeeds interim anchor Bob Scheiffer, who leaves the anchor chair after tonight but will continue to appear as a commentator.

Gil Schwartz, executive vice president of communications for CBS Corp., said the photo alteration was done by someone in the CBS photo department who ''got a little zealous.''
But he dismissed any notion of heads rolling over the matter.
''I talked to my photo department. We had a discussion about it,'' Schwartz said. ''I think photo understands this is not something we'd do in the future.''
He said the magazine's circulation exceeds 400,000.
While expressing regret to the News, McManus tried to make light of the matter. ''I've asked that three inches in height be added to my official CBS photo,'' he quipped.

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