# Editorial cartoonist > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Editorial_cartoonist > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Editorial_cartoonist.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editorial_cartoonist > Source revision: 1292276424 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Artist drawing editorial cartoons that contain political or social commentary This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Editorial cartoonist" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Editorial cartoonist Self-caricature by an editorial cartoonist Occupation Names Political cartoonist Occupation type Art profession Description Fields of employment Journalism Related jobs Cartoonist Columnist An **editorial cartoonist**, also known as a **political cartoonist**, is an artist who draws [editorial cartoons](/source/Editorial_cartoon) that contain some level of political or social commentary. Their cartoons are used to convey and question an aspect of daily news or current affairs in a national or international context. Political cartoonists generally adopt a [caricaturist](/source/Caricaturist) style of [drawing](/source/Drawing), to capture the likeness of a politician or subject. They may also employ humor or [satire](/source/Satire) to ridicule an individual or group, emphasize their point of view or comment on a particular event. Because an editorial cartoonist expresses an idea visually, with little or no text or words, it can be understood across many languages and countries. A strong tradition of editorial cartooning can be found throughout the world, in all political environments, including Cuba, Australia, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Iran, France, Denmark, Canada and the United States. ## Overview The traditional and most common outlet for political cartoonists is the [pocket cartoon](/source/Pocket_cartoon), which usually appears on the [editorial page](/source/Editorial_page) or the front news page of a newspaper. Editorial cartoons are not usually found in the dedicated comics section, although certain cartoons or [comic strips](/source/Comic_strips) (such as *[Doonesbury](/source/Doonesbury)*) have achieved crossover status.[1] In [India](/source/India), the most common and popular form of political commentary is the pocket cartoon. [R. K. Laxman](/source/R._K._Laxman), [Sudhir Dar](/source/Sudhir_Dar), [Mario Miranda](/source/Mario_Miranda), [E. P. Unny](/source/E._P._Unny), [Shekhar Gurera](/source/Shekhar_Gurera), [Ajit Ninan](/source/Ajit_Ninan) are some of the popular editorial cartoonists, through their daily pocket cartoons. Editorial cartoonists may reflect the political opinion expressed on the editorial page, or a newspaper in general, but they can also express opposing views, or opt for more populist humor that often reflects the [conventional wisdom](/source/Conventional_wisdom) of the readers. Historically, the political cartoon has roots in ancient art forms such as prehistoric [cave paintings](/source/Cave_painting) or the [hieroglyphs](/source/Hieroglyph) of Egypt, in terms of their role in informing society. Cartoonists in many ways take on the role of a [court jester](/source/Jester), who, though employed by a king or other ruler, would often mimic and ridicule him and his regime in his performances, to entertain the court or the common person.[2] ## Media trends Historically, political cartoons were quick, hand-drawn ink drawings, scanned and reproduced in black and white, and published in print newspapers. The introduction of color came later, and more recently the use of digital drawing tools is a popular and efficient way to produce work quickly for newspaper deadlines. In recent years, the Internet has become a popular means for distributing this kind of short format media, humor, and minority political opinions, leading to a large growth in the popularity of online and alternative editorial cartoons. The rise of [comics journalism](/source/Comics_journalism) online, which combines the longer comic strip format as a means to relay a story in more depth, is very effective in a vertical web format. As [visual journalists](/source/Visual_journalist), comics journalists can tell a story in a visual way, with words and images.[3][4] In the United States, there are more than a hundred published editorial cartoonists from both sides of the political divide. Whereas in the past American newspapers generally used to employ staff political cartoonists, nowadays, the work of many political cartoonists, are distributed via [syndication services](/source/Print_syndication) (such as [Andrews McMeel Syndication](/source/Andrews_McMeel_Syndication), [Cagle Cartoons](/source/Cagle_Cartoons), the [Tribune Content Agency](/source/Tribune_Content_Agency), [King Features Syndicate](/source/King_Features_Syndicate), [Creators Syndicate](/source/Creators_Syndicate), and [Counterpoint Media](/source/Counterpoint_Media)).[5] ## Risks A political cartoonist's aim is often to encourage debate; they can also fuel controversy. Their work can expose corrupt or abusive regimes, governments or political groups, and therefore often put themselves and their publishers at risk. In 2005, Danish cartoonist [Kurt Westergaard](/source/Kurt_Westergaard), who participated in the [Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy](/source/Jyllands-Posten_Muhammad_cartoons_controversy), received numerous death threats and was attacked in his home by a man with an axe.[6][7] In 2015, the French satirical magazine *[Charlie Hebdo](/source/Charlie_Hebdo)*'s offices were attacked by two Islamist gunmen in reaction to publishing cartoons of [Muhammad](/source/Muhammad). Twelve employees were killed, including staff cartoonists [Charb](/source/Charb), [Cabu](/source/Cabu), Honoré, [Tignous](/source/Tignous) and Wolinski.[8] ## Awards The [Cartoonists Rights Network International](/source/Cartoonists_Rights_Network_International) awards the annual Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award to political cartoonists who show bravery and risk their own safety to publish their work. In 2015, this accolade was awarded to [Atena Farghadani](/source/Atena_Farghadani) of Iran, who was jailed for more than 12 years for publishing a cartoon of Iran's parliament with heads of various animals.[9] There is a [Pulitzer Prize](/source/Pulitzer_Prize) awarded every year for America's top editorial cartoonist — as decided by a panel of senior media industry professionals and media academics (see [Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary](/source/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Illustrated_Reporting_and_Commentary)). Other major awards given each year to editorial cartoonists include the [Sigma Delta Chi Award](/source/Sigma_Delta_Chi_Award) from the [Society of Professional Journalists](/source/Society_of_Professional_Journalists), the [Thomas Nast](/source/Thomas_Nast) Award from the [Overseas Press Club](/source/Overseas_Press_Club), and the [Herblock](/source/Herblock) Prize. ## Organizations - [Association of American Editorial Cartoonists](/source/Association_of_American_Editorial_Cartoonists) (AAEC): The largest organization of political cartoonists, have over 300 members worldwide. - [National Cartoonists Society](/source/National_Cartoonists_Society) (NCS): welcomes editorial cartoonists in the United States. - [Cartoonists Rights Network International](/source/Cartoonists_Rights_Network_International) (CRNI): It helps cartoonists who are exiled, jailed or in danger of persecution. - [Indian Institute of Cartoonists](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Cartoonists) (IIC): The only organisation in [India](/source/India) dedicated to the art of cartooning and regularly exhibit cartoons of various cartoonists ## Books There are several North American books that have collected together the majority of cartoonists being published at the time. *Attack of the Political Cartoonists*, written by [J. P. Trostle](/source/J._P._Trostle), was published in 2004 and includes profiles of 150 mainstream American and Canadian cartoonists. *Attack* was an effort to update the 1962 tome *Today's Cartoon*, by *New Orleans States-Item* cartoonist John Chase, which included most of the editorial cartoonists working in the U.S. at the height of the Cold War. The 3-volume *Attitude* series includes some of the political cartoonists who have appeared in alternative newspapers and online — see *[Attitude: The New Subversive Cartoonists](/source/Attitude%3A_The_New_Subversive_Cartoonists)*. There are also a number of North American annual collections published each year, including *Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year* from Pelican Publishing, *Best Political Cartoons of the Year* from [Daryl Cagle](/source/Daryl_Cagle), and Portfolio, which showcases the best Canadian cartoons of the year. ## See also - [List of editorial cartoonists](/source/List_of_editorial_cartoonists) - [Indian Institute of Cartoonists](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Cartoonists) - [Center for the Study of Political Graphics](/source/Center_for_the_Study_of_Political_Graphics) - [Animated political cartoons](/source/Animated_political_cartoons) - [Graphics](/source/Graphics) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Counter Point"](http://deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=13630377). *Daily Pocket Cart*. Deccan Chronicle.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Coupe, W. A. (Jan 1969). ["Observations on a Theory of Political Caricature"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/178289). *[Comparative Studies in Society and History](/source/Comparative_Studies_in_Society_and_History)*. **11** (1). Cambridge University Press: 79–95. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0010417500005168](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0010417500005168). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [178289](https://www.jstor.org/stable/178289). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** R Rangara (June 28, 2017). ["In age of memes, political cartoons die a silent death"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/in-age-of-memes-political-cartoons-die-a-silent-death). *[The Times Of India](/source/The_Times_Of_India)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Srivastava, Ananya (May 14, 2017). ["Critique in caricature"](https://www.firstpost.com/living/critique-in-caricature-is-political-cartooning-a-dying-art-or-is-there-hope-for-its-future-3427950.html). *[First Post](/source/First_Post)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-EP_5-0)** Tornoe, Rob (June 16, 2022). ["New syndication options for illustrators: Syndicates facilitate ongoing opportunity for creators of comics and puzzles"](https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-syndication-options-for-illustrators,231246). *[Editor & Publisher](/source/Editor_%26_Publisher)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-w2_6-0)** Beim, Jakob Hvide (28 December 2009). ["Westergaard-angriber skal 25 dage i fængsel -"Westergaard-attack, 25 days in jail (translation)"](http://politiken.dk/indland/article871711.ece). *Dagbladet Politiken* (in Danish). Retrieved 2 January 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Assassination attempt on Mohammed cartoonist](http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/47853-assassination-attempt-on-mohammed-cartoonist.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100104234620/http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/47853-assassination-attempt-on-mohammed-cartoonist.html) 4 January 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-indep7jan_8-0)** Withnall, Adam; Lichfield, John (7 January 2015). ["Charlie Hebdo shooting: At least 12 killed as shots fired at satirical magazine's Paris office"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-shooting-10-killed-as-shots-fired-at-satirical-magazine-headquarters-according-to-reports-9962337.html). *The Independent*. London. Retrieved 9 January 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Jailed Iranian Artist Atena Farghadani Recipient of CRNI's 2015 Courage in Cartooning Award"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191208071130/http://cartoonistsrights.org/gSRU1). Archived from [the original](http://cartoonistsrights.org/gSRU1) on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2017. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Political cartoonists](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Political_cartoonists). - [Cartoons Magazine](http://toonsmag.com/) - [Cartoonists Rights Network International](http://cartoonistsrights.org/) - [Association of American Editorial Cartoonists](http://editorialcartoonists.com/) - [The Nib](https://thenib.com/) – an American online publisher of political cartoons and comic journalism --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Editorial cartoonist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editorial_cartoonist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editorial_cartoonist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.