Pulitzer Board

NCS RESPONSE TO PULITZER BOARD DISSOLVING EDITORIAL CARTOONING DIVISION

JUNE 10, 2022

Since 1946, the National Cartoonists Society has existed to advance the ideals and standards of professional cartooning in its many forms. To this end, the NCS board of directors hopes you will consider the following request.

As an organization representing cartoonists, we are deeply concerned about the decision to retire the “Editorial Cartooning” category for the Pulitzer prizes. We appreciate that the Pulitzers are expanding the types of cartooning and art that are award-worthy. We have done the same with our own awards. However, just as “News Photography” and “Feature Photography” are different, “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary” and “Editorial Cartooning” are two distinct genres of work and should be separate categories.

We ask that the Pulitzer Board officially retain “Editorial Cartooning” as its own category in addition to recognizing the category of “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary.” 

The skillset of each form of cartooning is distinct: illustrated stories select a topic and are produced over an extended period of time, requiring a level of cohesion, research, and development unique to this craft. 

Editorial cartooning demands an immediate interpretation and reaction to events in real-time, necessitating an ongoing awareness of complex and often unpredictable contexts. At a time when news cycles are smaller and smaller, this skill has become even more crucial.

Combining editorial cartooning and illustrated reportage together into one category does a disservice to both genres. To us, the situation is like having a sprinter and a long-distance runner competing for a single gold medal because they’re both track and field athletes.

We do not want to undermine the importance and skill of graphic reporting, comics journalism, or long-form reportage, nor take anything away from that category’s deserving winners and nominees. Additionally, we are not suggesting that you remove the category of “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary”; We ask that a category for “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary” exists alongside a separate category for “Editorial Cartooning.” We believe both skillsets deserve to be recognized. 

The NCS urges the Pulitzer board to adopt this change or consider opening the discussion with us to explore further.

 

The Board of Directors
National Cartoonists Society (Est 1946)

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Unusual deaths

Unusual deaths

Gregory Biggs

A homeless man in Fort Worth, Texas, was struck by a car being driven by Chante Jawan Mallard, who had been drinking and taking drugs that night. Biggs's torso became lodged in Mallard's windshield with severe but not immediately fatal injuries. Mallard drove home and left the car in her garage with Biggs still lodged in her car's windshield. She repeatedly visited Biggs and even apologized for hitting him.

Biggs passed several hours later. Chante Mallard was tried and convicted of slaying Biggs and received a 50-year prison sentence. The film Stuck is loosely based on this incident.

Bizarre deaths of the 21st century

Twenty-one people were killed and 150 injured in the Great Molasses Flood, when a large tank of molasses burst in Boston's North End.

List of unusual deaths

1982: David Grundman was killed near Lake Pleasant, Arizona while shooting at cacti with his shotgun. After he fired several shots at a 26 ft (8 m) tall Saguaro Cactus from extremely close range, a 4 ft (1.2 m) limb of the cactus detached and fell on him, crushing him.

Strange Deaths: Stories and Stats That Are Bizarre, but True

While the odds aren't in your favor of dying by these strange methods, it isn't impossible that you or someone you know might be one of the 'lucky' ones to die by such things as lightening or coconuts.

• Lightening: According to the National Safety Council, you have a 1 in 138,849 chance of dying by lightening in the United States. 
• Storms: According to the National Safety Council, you have a 1 in 58,669 chance of dying by cataclysmic storms in the United States. 
• Hornet, Wasps, and Bees: According to the National Safety Council, you have a 1 in 59,507 chance of dying by bee, hornet, or wasp sting in the United States. 
• Mosquitoes: According to a global study conducted in 2018, the animal you're most likely to die from is the mosquito. 
• Falling coconuts: According to a study conducted in the early 2000s, about 150 people around the world die from falling coconuts each year.

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Overtoot your own horn?

Artist Unknown

Your Self-Promoting Is More Annoying Than You Think

Some guy on Twitter recently started following me. 

I didn't follow him back because my guess is that he just wanted me to follow him in return. (I wonder how many follow-me Tweets he sends out each day.)

Had he written a sentence or two about how he was awed by my standing in the bathmat industry, I might have been tempted to return his follow.

Another reason I won't follow this guy is his annoying self-adulations. There's such a thing as overtooting (and from two different orifices, too.) This guy clearly has no idea how annoying he is. 

I'd rather not reprint his Tweet or copy-and-paste excerpts from his website. You can do that yourself, if you're tempted.

https://twitter.com/burritt_teresa

https://twitter.com/burritt_teresa/followers

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Please impress your fellow Froglandians by posting your own maddening piece of pomposity. Post it on the FA-commenting page or email it to me directly.

Write about your current or retired profession. Write about your prowess at the bathmat factory. Make up an attribute, talent (trebuchet loading, etc), or overpraise a professed gift (intelligence, appearance). Anytime goes... just be full of yourself. Are you a "Frog Applause" Superfan (or SuperLawyer like Rotifer)?

I will copy and post your writings here. If you write to me directly, let me know the name you want me to publish.

I can't wait to read your mockworthy drivel!

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Goat coat

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Following the rules...

Peanut sale

"Don't step even one foot outside, mister!"

"No eating in the living room. I mean it."

Men not allowed inside the women's dorms...

DOGS ALLOWED

"I hate washing the dishes!"

No painting apartment walls! (No one said anything about paint sample cards)

NO SHORTS ALLOWED!

"Only one-page formula sheet allowed for exam."

BUT UNICYCLES ARE OKAY...

SCHOOL UNIFORM REQUIRES A BELT DAILY
(even when you have to make one)

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Rotator cuff tendonitis

I've been doing exercises to try and mend my rotator cuff. Very painful. I might have a tear instead, but I'm going to approach this as less serious. 

My primary care physician diagnosed my problem, but it's important that I follow through with the exercises, otherwise I'll end up with a ill-functioning shoulder that freezes up when I need it to do everyday tasks.

I ordered some resistance cords to help... Any advise, anyone?

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Red flour beetle vs confused flour beetle

(Left) The red flour beetle is of Indo-Australian origin and is found in temperate areas, but will survive the winter in protected places, especially where there is central heat. In the United States, it is found primarily in the southern states. 

(Right) The confused flour beetle, originally of African origin, has a different distribution in that it occurs worldwide in cooler climates. In the United States it is more abundant in the northern states.

Comparison of adults of the red flour beetle (left), Tribolium castaneum and the confused flour beetle (right), Tribolium confusum. The antenna of the red flour beetle ends in a 3-segmented club and the sides of the thorax are slightly curved. The confused flour beetle has no apparent club on the antennae and the sides of the thorax are straighter. Graphics by USDA.

The red and confused flour beetles may be present in large numbers in infested grain, but are unable to attack sound or undamaged grain (Walter). The adults are attracted to light, but will go towards cover when disturbed. Typically, these beetles can be found not only inside infested grain products, but in cracks and crevices where grain may have spilled. They are attracted to grain with high moisture content and can cause a grey tint to the grain they are infesting. The beetles give off a displeasing odor, and their presence encourages mold growth in grain.

Keep in mind that these beetles may infest areas other than the pantry. Be sure to inspect spices, pet food, and flower arrangements. Also keep in mind that some stuffing in furniture or stuffed animals may have natural products that these beetles could feed on. Also be aware of areas in which any of these products may have spilled, like under the refrigerator or stove. These beetles are able to locate very small bits of food. Once all of the infested material has been removed, be sure to vacuum and clean up the area around the infestation. If you have shelf paper, it would be wise to remove it, thoroughly clean under it with soap and hot water, and replace it with new paper. Be sure to pay close attention to the cracks and crevices of any cabinets. To prevent re-infestation, all grain products should be stored in containers with tight fitting lids, or stored in the freezer. Also consider where the infestation came from. It is likely that you could have a re-infestation by purchasing infested grain products from the same business. When shopping, look for "leaky packages" before buying a product.

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