The New York Times has decided to end its political cartoons altogether after the backlash over an anti-Semitic cartoon it published in its international edition.
Longtime Times cartoonist Patrick Chappatte expressed his sadness over the paper’s decision in a statement on his own website and issued a warning about the toxic effects of social media outrage mobs on journalism.
“In April 2019, a Netanyahu caricature from syndication reprinted in the international editions triggered widespread outrage, a Times apology and the termination of syndicated cartoons,” Chappatte explained. “Last week, my employers told me they’ll be ending in-house political cartoons as well by July. I’m putting down my pen, with a sigh: that’s a lot of years of work undone by a single cartoon – not even mine – that should never have run in the best newspaper of the world.”
“I’m afraid this is not just about cartoons, but about journalism and opinion in general,” Chappatte continued. “We are in a world where moralistic mobs gather on social media and rise like a storm, falling upon newsrooms in an overwhelming blow. This requires immediate counter-measures by publishers, leaving no room for ponderation or meaningful discussions. Twitter is a place for furor, not debate. The most outraged voices tend to define the conversation, and the angry crowd follows in.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper, himself a cartoonist, condemned the Times’ decision Monday as “horrible.”
This is a horrible decision by the NYT. https://t.co/wRuSbIRpsU
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 10, 2019
The larger issue imho is why such a great newspaper has historically had such a sneering attitude towards editorial cartooning. Anyway thanks for the response
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 10, 2019
The cartoon referenced was an anti-Semitic depiction of a blind, yarmulke-clad President Trump being led around by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was portrayed as a dog in a Star of David leash.
The image sparked outrage, leading to protests outside the Times’ office in New York City.
Blaming its publication on “a production editor who did not recognize its anti-Semitism,” the Times’ editorial board also opined at the time that the cartoon was evidence that “this ancient, enduring prejudice [of anti-Semitism] is once again working itself into public view and common conversation.”
“The responsibility for acts of hatred rests on the shoulders of the proponents and perpetrators,” they continued. “But history teaches that the rise of extremism requires the acquiescence of broader society. As anti-Semitism has surged from the internet into the streets, President Trump has done too little to rouse the national conscience against it.”
