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

Recap: Cartoons & Cocktails 2013

Earlier this evening I spent some time at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to attend Cartoons & Cocktails. It wasn't my first time at the Press Club rodeo, as back in 2011 there was an international cartoonists event. I really like the venue because it speaks so highly about the District and how news is covered. At one time before the cartoon events I took a tour when I planned the reception for AIGA 50 (which ended up being held at the National Postal Museum) in 2008.

The event started out with a silent auction. Many cartoons were placed around tables on both sides of the room and people could write down their bids using their given number at check-in. Then Steve Artley lead the program as Master of Ceremonies and the live auction began. 

One piece that was auctioned off was the original Steve Artley Halloween comic published in Magic Bullet #7! All the profits raised from the auctions benefit Young D.C. and Cartoonists Rights Network.

It was great to see David Hagen, Mike Rhode, Matt Wuerker, Steve Artley, and Joe Sutliff again. The DC gang unites!

To view more photos, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152000040297381.1073741837.50763422380&type=1