While working with Rick Sherman on his national contest entries Thursday afternoon, it reminded me of how fortunate The Monroe Times is for having an editorial cartoonist on staff.
Rick has been drawing editorial page cartoons for the Times since 2005. He had done cartoons for me at The iNK weekly newspaper in Freeport before I joined The Monroe Times in 2005 officially three years ago today, now that I think of it.
Most newspapers these days are dumping local editorial cartoonists for nationally syndicated ones. Unlike budgets for most local governments that complain they dont have enough money, newspaper budgets dont usually grow these days. The near-extinction of local editorial cartoons is one of the negative impacts.
Thankfully, our general manager has a firm commitment to our opinion page and to local editorial cartoons. They add yet another local dimension to what has become a very local Views page.
Even to most in our newsroom, Rick is a sort of mystery. Im not sure if anyone at The Times has actually met Rick aside from me. Theyve talked to him on the phone, but not in person. He lives in Illinois, but pays frequent attention to the many issues in the Monroe area and statewide.
Hes got, lets say, an interesting sense of humor that I quite enjoy. I think anyone who follows his work on a regular basis knows what I mean.
Ricks also kind of unpredictable when it comes to political philosophies, which I think is a good trait in an editorial cartoonist.
His cartoons tend to rile people up from time to time, which also is a good trait in an editorial cartoonist. Editorial cartoons, like opinion pieces, are meant to provoke thought and discussion. And sometimes that means making someone angry.
Which brings me to one more point Ill make today about editorial cartoons they dont necessarily have to be funny. Sometimes, editorial cartoons are extremely serious. Ive talked to a number of people who think because its a cartoon, it therefore must be humorous. Not always.
If you havent checked out Ricks work in the Times, I urge you to do so daily on our Views page (A4) in the newspaper and in the Sherman Cartoons section on this Web site.
Let me know what you think of his cartoons.
Rick has been drawing editorial page cartoons for the Times since 2005. He had done cartoons for me at The iNK weekly newspaper in Freeport before I joined The Monroe Times in 2005 officially three years ago today, now that I think of it.
Most newspapers these days are dumping local editorial cartoonists for nationally syndicated ones. Unlike budgets for most local governments that complain they dont have enough money, newspaper budgets dont usually grow these days. The near-extinction of local editorial cartoons is one of the negative impacts.
Thankfully, our general manager has a firm commitment to our opinion page and to local editorial cartoons. They add yet another local dimension to what has become a very local Views page.
Even to most in our newsroom, Rick is a sort of mystery. Im not sure if anyone at The Times has actually met Rick aside from me. Theyve talked to him on the phone, but not in person. He lives in Illinois, but pays frequent attention to the many issues in the Monroe area and statewide.
Hes got, lets say, an interesting sense of humor that I quite enjoy. I think anyone who follows his work on a regular basis knows what I mean.
Ricks also kind of unpredictable when it comes to political philosophies, which I think is a good trait in an editorial cartoonist.
His cartoons tend to rile people up from time to time, which also is a good trait in an editorial cartoonist. Editorial cartoons, like opinion pieces, are meant to provoke thought and discussion. And sometimes that means making someone angry.
Which brings me to one more point Ill make today about editorial cartoons they dont necessarily have to be funny. Sometimes, editorial cartoons are extremely serious. Ive talked to a number of people who think because its a cartoon, it therefore must be humorous. Not always.
If you havent checked out Ricks work in the Times, I urge you to do so daily on our Views page (A4) in the newspaper and in the Sherman Cartoons section on this Web site.
Let me know what you think of his cartoons.
