News media paid Melania Trump thousands for use of photos in 'positive stories only'

[Miles Archer]

News media paid Melania Trump thousands for use of photos in 'positive stories only'



https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/news-media-paid-melania-trump-thousands-use-photos-positive-stories-n883111?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

Since her husband took office Melania Trump has earned six figures from an unusual deal with a photo agency in which major media organizations have indirectly paid the Trump family despite a requirement that the photos be used only in positive coverage.

President Donald Trump's most recent financial disclosure reveals that in 2017 the first lady earned at least $100,000 from Getty Images for the use of any of a series of 187 photos of the first family shot between 2010 and 2016 by Belgian photographer Regine Mahaux.

It's not unheard of for celebrities to earn royalties from photos of themselves, but it's very unusual for the wife of a currently serving elected official. More problematic for the many news organizations that have published or broadcast the images, however, is that Getty's licensing agreement stipulates the pictures can be used in "positive stories only."

According to the revenue statement in President Trump's May financial disclosure, Melania Trump earned between $100,000 and $1,000,000 in photo royalties in 2017 from the Getty deal.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. You just have to love it when the real truth comes into view.

[MattP]

2. She must have made a fortune off of pictures of her in that jacket

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Another Russian troll, another rubles' profit center,

this is where we are, ain't it sad.

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[catbyte]

4. That whole family are the biggest bunch of sleazebags I've ever seen.

Every time I see another sleazy story about them, I feel like taking a shower.