PolitickerNY

FishbowlDC writer Betsy Rothstein created a huge controversy yesterday by publishing a story declaring an “unusual trend” of female “campaign and White House reporters … using provocative, sometimes sexy photographs of themselves for their Twitter accounts.” Today, Ms. Rothstein spoke with The Politicker to give her side of the sexy photo flap.

Ms. Rothstein’s post inspired a huge backlash including a Twitter campaign launched by this reporter to get male members of the media to switch to sexed up Twitter profile photos to express solidarity with our female colleagues who were subjected to this story that was, in my view, “a clear example of the objectification and double standards that have existed far too long surrounding women in the workforce.” Ms. Rothstein fired back at some of her critics on Twitter including Gawker writer Maureen O’Connor who called her “a skank” leading Ms. Rothstein to reply in kind.

Since, I have already weighed in with my opinion on this story, I am presenting the conversation between myself and Ms. Rothstein as an interview edited only for length. Read on hear Ms. Rothstein explain why she felt the story was worthwhile, how the word “skank” is different from “sexpot,” and why she won’t address Ms. O’Connor in the future. Read More