From Poynter Online:

A 2004 Neiman Report [PDF] on cartoonists said that 10 years ago, there were 150 salaried editorial cartoonists in America. Now, the report said, there are about 85 left. I have seen other estimates -- all of them lower. The report includes interviews with a number of publishers, explaining why editorial cartoons are important.

What makes a great editorial cartoon? What are the most memorable cartoons from your town?

 

Daryl Cagle's Web site not only includes links to the cartoons that have caused so much pain and furor but it includes cartoons about the cartoons. The site includes a lesson plan for teachers (elementary through high school) who want to talk about free speech and editorial freedom. 

The American Association of Editorial Cartoonists also has a Web site that includes an official statement about free speech. The site includes a large collection of cartoons. The AAEC has a large collection of historic cartoons, as well.

The kidnappers of a U.S. freelance journalist say they want their demands met by Feb. 26 or they will kill her. Their main demand is the release of all female Iraqi prisoners. Here's the AP story on CTV.ca.

Raunchy syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage holds forth on Brokeback Mountain, End of the Spear and conservative reaction to both.

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The NYT blurb: "Drug dealers and corrupt police officers regularly kill those who write about them, leading most reporters to censor themselves, (Mexican) journalists say."

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This BBC story looks at what happened to the editors who were involved in publishing the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

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BBC: French papers in cartoon lawsuit

BBC: Danish ambassador to leave Syria

BBC: Sweden shuts website over cartoon

BBC: Thousands attend cartoon protests

BBC: A clash of rights and responsibilities (feature)

BBC: What the cartoons portray (backgrounder)

BBC: Q and A: The cartoons row

BBC: Viewpoints

BBC: Row timeline

Guardian: Malaysia bans Muhammad cartoons

A statement by Flemming Rose --  cultural editor of the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark, and the fellow who came up with the idea to solicit caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad --  that he might run some Holocaust cartoons selected by an Iranian newspaper has earned him an indefinite holiday.

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The director of a UK group called MediaWise penned a column a few days ago on the cartoons controversy. I address some holes in it.

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