In this new edition of our series taking you behind the scenes of the glamorous world of international cartooning, French artist Bernard Bouton has made a video of his work process. It is an interesting mix of old-fashioned hand-drawing and digital techniques:
Cartoon Movement contributor and award-winning environmental cartoonist Stephanie McMillan has started a campaign on indiegogo.com to continue her weekly editorial cartoon 'Code Green':
“Code Green” is, as far as I know, the only regular editorial cartoon in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the environmental crisis.[...]There’s a problem though. We all know print media has crashed. Editorial cartooning, as a profession, has crashed along with it. Three and a half years ago I was laid off from the paper where I worked (it later folded). So I went freelance. But print media no longer pays very much for content. Websites often refuse to pay anything at all. Consequently, it turns out I’m unable to make a living this way (defined as: very basic food, shelter, health care, and transportation). This is not unusual for cartoonists these days. Many excellent cartoonists have had to quit and find other kinds of work. I may be next.
Stephanie is turning to her readers to ask for support to continue the cartoon. She is looking to raise 9000 dollars, which will keep the cartoon series going for another year. To read more about her campaign, or to support Stephanie, visit her page at indiegogo.com.
Today we publish the latest installment of Army Of God by David Axe and Tim Hamilton, this one focusing on the US State Department under Hillary Clinton and their efforts to combat the violence, rape, and kidnapping that has followed Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and their tear through the countryside. you can read previous chapters on our Army of God project page.
On Monday the 13th, we publish the latest installment of Army Of God by David Axe and Tim Hamilton. As each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the conflict in Congo, this one zeros in on the US State Department under Hillary Clinton and their efforts to combat the violence, rape, and kidnapping that has followed Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and their tear through the countryside.
Aristides Hernandez (better known by his artist name Ares), is a cartoonist and illistrator from Havana, Cuba. He has won numerous awards and works for clients in Cuba and Mexico; we're very happy he will also start contributing his work to Cartoon Movement. Visit his website here.
Oakland, California. Ground zero for a medical marijuana fight between states and the federal government that has only been heating up. Graphic journalist Susie Cagle surveys the impact of recent DEA raids in "Down In Smoke," her third piece for Cartoon Movement. Incorporating real audio from activists, Cagle portrays what "feels like class war" as local growers, patients and city officials fight against losing their jobs, medicine, and tax revenue.
Californians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, and President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder stated early on they would not target legitimate businesses. But they've since reversed course and declared war on dispensaries, a huge tax base for the debt-ridden state. "It's an issue that highlights the divides in America's culture and its politics," Cagle writes, "as a government based 3,000 miles away attempts to override state law and the people's mandate."
Some time ago we posted 'The Cost of Gas', a video made by the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) on the true cost of gasoline. The video showcased how to succesfully mix journalism and graphics. The CIR has made a new video, showing the hidden cost of hamburgers. This video again shows how visuals and journalism combine to tell an engaging story. CIR has also posted an annotated script with links to studies and source documents on their website.
Comics journalism and social justice meet in "Jessica Colotl: Eye Of The Storm", published today in a partnership between Cartoon Movement and the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Jessica Colotl is an undocumented immigrant who was brought to America as a child – and now faces deportation. Reporter Ryan Schill and artist Greg Scott bring to life the story that has become a flash point for America's immigration debate. The comic is available in both English and Spanish.
"Seeing the story through Jessica's eyes adds a powerful new dimension to the immigration debate," said Ryan Schill, the comic's writer and the assistant editor of JJIE.org. "It's a reminder that real people are at the heart of the issue – that immigration is not just some abstract concept to be argued about in Congress and on Sunday talk shows."
Leonard Witt, publisher of JJIE.org and Youth Today, said, “We are all about reporting on youth justice issues; so, need to reach the crucial 13-to-25-year-old demographic. Comics journalism is the perfect medium for that audience. But I also know from reading work in that field, it’s a great way to inform folks of all ages. Read the Jessica Colotl piece, you will see what I mean.“
On Monday, August 6th, Cartoon Movement will publish a comics journalism piece in partnership with the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange on Jessica Colotl, an undocumented immigrant who was brought to America as a child – and who now faces deportation. Reporter Ryan Schill and artist Greg Scott bring to life the story that has become a flash point for America's immigration debate.