Related to the subject matter of James Joyner’s post regarding donations to Trump, The Wrap reports: Washington Post Cartoonist Ann Telnaes Quits After Bezos-Owned Paper Kills Trump Satire Piece.
Washington Post editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes quit after a satirical cartoon, which poked fun at the paper’s owner Jeff Bezos and other media and tech giants bending the knee to President-elect Donald Trump, was killed.
The Pulitzer Prize winner shared her decision in a Substack post Friday.
“I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now,” she said.
As noted in the quote, Telnaes provides a full explanation at her Substack.
She elaborates as follows:
While it isn’t uncommon for editorial page editors to object to visual metaphors within a cartoon if it strikes that editor as unclear or isn’t correctly conveying the message intended by the cartoonist, such editorial criticism was not the case regarding this cartoon. To be clear, there have been instances where sketches have been rejected or revisions requested, but never because of the point of view inherent in the cartoon’s commentary. That’s a game changer…and dangerous for a free press.
A rough draft of the cartoon can be found here (or via the Substack link above). (The site is giving me fits regarding images this morning).
I would recommend Telnaes’ visual essay from 2019, which she reposted last month: The canaries aren’t doing well.
Update: See also, from The Daily Cartoonist, CSotD: Telnaes is only unemployed, not gone.
