Post Election Season Tough Times for Political Cartoonists
Over at his Cagle blog, LA Observed contributor and former staff cartoonist at the Ventura County Star Steve Greenberg laments the loss of yet more newspaper staff cartoonist positions–including Pultizer Prize winner Matt Davies–in the wake of the recent elections. 34 percent of all staff cartoon jobs at newspapers have been axed since 2008–with three coming since the recent mid-term elections.
“That’s three full-time positions lost in a field that now numbers perhaps just 67 remaining positions,” writes Greenberg. “The fact that newspapers tend to lay off editorial cartoonists right after big elections, to me, ironically proves the value of the cartoonists. Editors know the cartoons help shape the issues, give weight to election endorsements, make the case for or against candidates and issues more effectively than written editorials, and resonate with readers.”
Noting that political cartoons are often the most widely read and clipped section of the newspaper, Greenberg quotes his colleague Milt Priggee: “Will those idiots ever stop shooting holes in the bottom of the boat to let the water out?”
Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online 
FishbowlLA Twitter feed loading...
