Chicago, IL (April 6, 2009) -- Before The Daily Show, the Colbert Report and JibJab, there was the editorial cartoon. These witty and often-times biting social commentaries were found in the nation’s newspapers and magazines long before the current crop of television and online brands of political satire came to screens across America. Throughout the years, these satirical cartoons have lampooned everything and everyone from Barack to Blago. Political cartoons have been published in newspapers and magazines in the U.S. since 1754 when Benjamin Franklin created his “Join, or Die” cartoon for the Pennsylvania Gazette.
In 1980, with the passing of legendary editorial cartoonist John Fischetti, Columbia College Chicago developed the Fischetti Competition to recognize excellence in the field. For more than a quarter-century, The Fischetti has celebrated the profession of editorial cartooning and the men and women whose wit and artistry hold both politicians and the public to account, asking us to think, to discuss and often to amend our behavior.
Lee Judge of the Kansas City Star is the 2009 first place winner for his “Price of Gas,” a stark and poignant anti-war statement depicting a soldier’s helmet perched on a rifle. Honorable mentions went to Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal Constitution for “Day One” in which President Obama sits at his desk taping together the U.S. Constitution and Michael Ramirez of Investor’s Business Daily for his biting critique of the banking scandal and the victimization of the American taxpayer.
Visit our website to view the winning cartoons, learn more about the winners get the history on the Fischetti award and scholarship.
The 2009 Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition Awards and Reception honoring Judge, Luckovich and Ramirez will be held on Thursday, April 16 in the college’s Hokin Annex Gallery, 623 S. Wabash Ave. A live auction of this year’s winners will be held during the event. A silent auction of recent images drawn and signed by past Fischetti winners, many of them also recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, are also available that evening, a separate collection from the on-line gallery. To R.S.V.P. for the event call 312-369-6600. New this year is an online auction of political cartoons.
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