We recently received an e-mail pitch forwarded from a reader where the opening line read as follows:

(Publication’s) Editorial Director is (name), a smart and beautiful veteran of 25 years is one of the most respected editors in the magazine world.

As you can see we’ve removed all identifying info. The reader sent us the pitch along with this note:

This struck me as inappropriate and questionable. Does the female editor-in-chief in question know she is being pitched to media on the basis of her ‘beauty,’ as well as her experience? It seems terribly ignorant and sexist, and if this guy were my publicist, I’d want him fired since I’d bet dollars to donuts he’s not pitching male EICs as being handsome or anything tied to their looks. Wanted to share it with you so you might expose the sexism that’s alive and kicking.

What’s your take? Have you ever been asked to send a pitch like this?