Cartoonist Ann Telnaes received the Pulitzer Prize for illustrated reporting and commentary on Monday, shortly after she resigned from The Washington Publish over it reportedly censoring a cartoon essential of Publish proprietor Jeff Bezos’ relationship with President Donald Trump.
The Pulitzer Prizes are thought of the best award in journalism. In its quotation, the Pulitzer committee credited Telnaes for “delivering piercing commentary on powerful people and institutions with deftness, creativity—and a fearlessness that led to her departure from the news organization after 17 years.” Telnaes beforehand received the award in 2001.
“In a time when the free press is under attack by autocrats in their quest to silence dissent, editorial cartoons and satire are essential for a democracy to survive and thrive,” Telnaes mentioned in a press release. “I’m honored to receive this award and encourage everyone to support their local cartoonist.”
Telnaes left the paper in January after a cartoon she drew was declined for publication by the Publish’s editorial web page. The sketch depicted Bezos, Mickey Mouse (Disney owns ABC), Meta head Mark Zuckerberg, Los Angeles Instances proprietor Patrick Quickly-Shiong, and Sam Altman of OpenAI bowing to Trump and providing him cash.
Days after the incident, Bezos was amongst these with entrance row seats to Trump’s inauguration—an occasion that he reportedly donated funds to.
Telnaes’ departure was a part of a gradual stream of figures leaving the paper on the finish of 2024 and early this yr. Staffers give up after Bezos spiked an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, and columnists Ruth Marcus and Jennifer Rubin additionally give up over the Publish’s capitulations to Trump.
Bezos has not publicly opposed Trump’s insurance policies like tariffs, even whereas arguing that the newspaper’s editorial line would brazenly help “free markets and personal liberties.”
Trump has expressed delight that Bezos is now in his nook. In a March interview, Trump hailed Bezos for “trying to do a real job” in altering the editorial tone on the paper.
Because the Trump administration has made a concerted effort to warp press entry on the White Home in favor of shops prepared to regurgitate right-wing propaganda—or, within the case of the Publish, not push again too laborious in opposition to it—figures like Telnaes have continued to talk out.
Telnaes now operates a Substack for her cartoons, with over 98,000 subscribers. 1000’s of individuals will nonetheless see the award-winning work that didn’t bow to Trump—they only received’t see it in The Washington Publish anymore.
