Tag Archives: Margaret Sullivan

The Society of Professional Journalists stands in full support of editorial cartoonist Adam Zyglis, a recipient of this year’s Sigma Delta Chi Award for Editorial Cartooning, and strongly condemns the threats of violence made against him and his family following the recent publication of one of his cartoons in The Buffalo News. The SDX Awards recognize the best in professional journalism across categories including print/online, audio, television and more.

 

Zyglis’s cartoon that prompted the recent threats comments on the tragic flooding in Texas and the essential role of government during disasters. The cartoon falls within the long and respected tradition of editorial cartooning: provoking thought, encouraging debate and challenging power through visual commentary. People are free to disagree with that point of view. What they’re not free to do is threaten violence in response.

 

The Buffalo Newspaper Guild and the Buffalo History Museum made the decision to postpone a public event Thursday night celebrating local journalism due to credible threats to Zyglis’s safety. The event, “Drawing Support for Local Journalism,” was to launch the Guild’s “Protect Local Journalism” campaign at a museum exhibiting Zyglis’s work. That’s more than just a disruption — it’s an attack on the values of free expression, civil discourse and community support for the press.

 

“SPJ stands with Zyglis, the Guild and every journalist working under threat simply for doing their job,” said SPJ President Emily Bloch. “We call on law enforcement to take these threats seriously, and we call on the public to support the right of journalists, including opinion journalists, to publish without fear.”

 

Too often, the role of editorial cartoonists and opinion journalists is misunderstood. These creations don’t just entertain, they challenge, provoke and spark necessary dialogue.

 

“Threats to me and my family are never an acceptable response to disagreeing with an editorial cartoon,”

Zyglis, who is also a Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote in a social media post.

“Threats of violence have no place in a democracy that supports Freedom of Speech and the First Amendment.”

 

As former Buffalo News editor Margaret Sullivan wrote, there are many reasonable responses to a cartoon someone doesn’t agree with:

write to the journalist, discuss it with others or post a counterpoint on social media.

What happened instead was a wave of outrage fueled by partisan media figures and politicians, followed by death threats and a need for law enforcement and private security.

 

“The First Amendment protects the right of journalists to speak truth, offer commentary and challenge those in power,”

said SPJ Executive Director Caroline Hendrie.

“When threats and harassment are used to silence a journalist like Zyglis, it’s not just an attack on one voice, it’s an attack on press freedom itself.”

 

SPJ champions journalists by recognising outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals.