Former Wichita Eagle Cartoonist Talks About Life After Layoff

Cutbacks among editorial cartoonists this year has been dramatic (myself included). They're part of the larger wave to layoffs and reductions experienced by most major media companies due to the economic recession.

Richard Crowson, the former cartoonist for the Wichita Eagle, was let go back in September after spending 21 years at the paper. But he's not letting all the sour news keep him down.

It was announced earlier this week that Crowson will now be cartooning for the Wichita Magazine on a monthly basis. Beginning in January, he'll have free reign with the inside back page of the magazine, and plans to fill it with a satirical view of the city drawn as a prairedog town called Wichidog Town.

Richard is also busy playing his banjo, volunteering, and he's even started his own website and blog, located at http://www.richardcrowson.com.

Despite losing his job, Crowson told Alan Gardner over at The Daily Cartoonist that things seem to be very optimistic:

This layoff thing has been just the kick in the butt I needed to explore some of these possibilities that I’d wanted to get involved in for years. After some 30-odd years of editorial cartooning (some of which were very odd) I’m due for a change. The experiences I’ve had drawing for The Wichita Eagle for the last 21 years, and for The Jackson Sun (in Jackson, Tennessee) for 9 years prior to that, have been rewarding and a real blast, but now I can stretch out a little and it feels good!

Recently he talked with KMUW's Frank Dudgeon, which you can listen to here.

Wichita Eagle cartoonist latest to be shown the door

The Wichita Business Journal is reporting that Wichita Eagle editorial cartoonist Richard Crowson has been laid off, the latest in about a half dozen staff cartoonists let go in recent months, and one of dozens of cartoonists jettisoned in recent years as newspapers continue to struggle with declining revenues, an economic downturn and online competition.

“I understand the circumstances newspapers are having to deal with, economically with the Internet,” Crowson told the Wichita Business Journal.

"They're just wanting to tighten down a little bit on the budget and adjust to the new economic realities."

On Sept. 16, the Wichita Eagle announced six of its employees were being laid off and another 16 had accepted voluntary buyouts, representing a 6 percent reduction in the newspaper’s workforce. The Eagle said it already had laid off about 2 percent of its workforce in 2008.

Its parent company, The McClatchy Co., announced it would reduce its workforce company-wide by 10 percent, or 1,150 full-time employees.

Crowson had been with the Kansas newspaper since 1985, working first as a newsroom artist doing illustrations, maps, and graphics. In 1987, the paper created the cartoonist job for Crowson.

Crowson says he isn’t sure what’s next for his career. He says he will take time off and enjoy not having a daily deadline. But he also is looking into other types of art and illustration projects.

“I like to keep my options open."

To view a video about Crowson's process of creating cartoons, click here.

Tulsa World cartoonist dies in car accident

I just finished reading on The Daily Cartoonist that Doug Marlette, the staff editorial cartoonist for the Tulsa World, died this morning in a car crash. Marlette went to work for the World in 2006 to replace David Simpson, who was dismissed due to plagiarism. According to the Tulsa World, Marlette is survived by his wife, Melinda, and an adult son, Jackson.

He will definitely be missed, not only by his family, and his fans around the country, but by all of his cartooning peers, who from talking to them hold him in high esteem.

From Editor and Publisher, Nick Anderson, the staff cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle and president-elect of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, told them in an e-mail:

"This is really shocking. He was only 57. It's a loss to the world of cartooning. He was a respected member of our profession. There will be a conspicuous absence on the pages of American newspapers. I'd like to extend my sympathies to his family."

Doug Marlette, World editorial cartoonist, dies in Mississippi accident
- The Tulsa World

Doug Marlette Dead After Mississippi Car Accident
- The Daily Cartoonist

Cartoonist Doug Marlette Dies in Car Accident
- Editor & Publisher

A slideshow of recent cartoons
- The Tulsa World

Breen publishes first children's book

Over on The Daily Cartoonist, cartoonistLucas Turnbloom reports that Steve Breen, the Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist at the San Diego Union-Tribune, as well as the creator of the strip Grand Avenue, has just published his very first children's book entitled "Stick."

According to The Daily Cartoonist,, the book hit shelves yesterday and retails for $16.99 but can be had at Amazon for $11.55.

Check it out on Amazon here.

KAL featured in Harvard Magazine

Kevin Kallaugher, the former political cartoonist for the Baltimore Sun, and current cartoonist for The Economist, has a nice write-up in the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of The Harvard Magazine. The article discusses his current contributions to the Economist, what he did after leaving the Sun, and his latest venture into 3D animation. Read the article here

To check out more of Kevin's work, check out his website KAL Toons.

Handelsman shows how to draw

I don't know how long it's been up on the Newsday website, but their editorial cartoonist Walt Handelsman has a short flash slideshow showing his creative process as he draws, inks and finishes an editorial cartoon. There is also a link to the animated cartoons that he's produced.

Non Sequitur attacks editorial cartoonists

So I'm relaxing yesterday morning, reading the Sunday funnies, when I come across 'Non Sequitur' by Wiley Miller (a fellow member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists). Funny think is his strip attacks EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS! You can read the cartoon here.

In response, over at the Editor & Publisher, Dave Astor reports on the strip, and there is a rebuttal from current AAEC President Rob Rogers, cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Vice President Nick Anderson, the cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle. You can read the article here.

Thanks to the AAEC.

Nick Anderson interactive cartoon

Another animated cartoon, this time from the Houston Chronicle's Nick Anderson. Over on his blog, he's posted a new cartoon that is interactive, and it's exciting to think about what's possible with this new wave of desktop technology, especially with someone as creative as Nick behind it.

You can check out the animated cartoon here.

Ann Telnaes animated

Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist (and fellow AAEC member) Ann Telnaes has just posted her first animated cartoon on her website, joining the increasing number of cartoonists to do animated cartoons for the web.

Of note is the fact that she uses the President's actual voice ala Robert Smigel and his 'Fun with Real Audio' cartoons on SNL.

Thanks to The Daily Cartoonist.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

David Astor over at Editor & Publisher has posted a short commentary about a new "golden age" of cartoonists that are appealing to readers with their computer enhanced coloring and website animations. But the same cartoonists are also putting in more work for less pay, something that newspapers seem to enjoy.

You can check out the article here.