The following is a story I wrote for a Journalism class after attending the annual Joe Creason Lecture in Journalism.
On September 15, political cartoonist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes spoke for the annual Joe Creason Lecture in Journalism. Telnaes told of her career and what led to her quitting after 16 years with the Washington Post.
As a child and young adult, Telnaes wanted to be a character animator for Disney. But somewhere along the way, an opportunity called that she couldn’t let pass her by.
“You should always have a goal, but if that window opens next to it, take it,” Telnaes said.
Telnae ended up drawing women’s issue cartoons and later landed a job with the Washington Post.
“We create visual commentary,” Telnaes said of her job as an editorial cartoonist. “We do exactly what a writer on the editorial page does, except with images.”
Telnaes quit her job with the Washington Post after a disagreement with her editor, who chose to deny publishing one of Telnaes’ cartoons. The cartoon in question depicted Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, on knee to Donald Trump.
Then-Editor David Shipley said he was simply, “obeying in advance.”
“Artists, they are the ones who are sticking their necks out there first,” Telnaes said. “American newspaper owners and publishers are [silencing cartoonists] themselves, by obeying in advance.”
Concluding her lecture, Telnaes shared her thoughts on the work of editorial cartoonists and their editors.
“Editorial cartoonists need to speak out and stand their ground,” Telnaes said. “And editors need to protect them.”