World Press Freedom Day Celebration 2025

On May 5 many DC area cartoonists gathered to celebrate World Press Freedom Day with a panel of legendary cartoonists out on the front lines of free speech — and for the announcement of the 2025 Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award by Cartoonists Rights.

The award was given to Zehra Ömeroğlu, a Turkish cartoonist who appeared on screen via pre-recorded video. She has been the target of criminal prosecution for a pandemic sex humor cartoon published in 2020 and faces a three year prison sentence (to give you an idea of the content think about a loss of taste and smell joke). I was surprised to not know about this cartoon and the cartoonist's work/life impact... until five years later and it's still going on.

Panel participants included Barry Blitt (The New Yorker) Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher (The Economist), Joel Pett (Tribune Content Agency), and Signe Wilkinson (Philadelphia Inquirer). The moderator was Roslyn Mazer (SU Alumna and Free Expression Champion).

Katherine Jacobsen of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) delivered a keynote address.

Event sponsored by: Cartoonists Rights, Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom Cartoonists, The Herb Block Foundation

Herblock Prize 2015

Last Thursday, May 7, 2015 we gathered to celebrate Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher for the Herblock Prize presentation and ceremony to recognize excellence in editorial cartooning. I've ran into KAL through mutual cartoonists briefly a few times and Barbara Dale introduced me to him a couple years ago at Baltimore Comic-Con. He has drawn thousands of cartoons for The Baltimore Sun and The Economist -- and even more cartoons for many publications globally. 

Kal's speech was inspiring and proves that editorial cartooning and freedom of speech is something we should not toss aside. It's no wonder why he can make us laugh, as it's only a part of his last name. 

"Don't draw a blank. Hire a cartoonist." - KAL

Thanks to the US Library of Congress for putting on a great show. You can see more photos for the 2015 Herblock Prize on the Curls Studio Facebook page and give us a "Like" while you're at it: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153241780877381.1073741856.50763422380&type=3

For more insight on the Herblock, read Michael Cavna's column about the evening here.