Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards at 4PM today!

I was one of the judges for the editorial cartoon division. Usually these are held in person, and are inspiring, moving, disturbing and well-worth attending - Mike Please join us this afternoon for a virtual ceremony to announce and celebrate our 2020 winners   Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards   Thursday, June 4, 2020 4:00pm (EDT) Remarks by Kerry Kennedy Master of Ceremonies: Michael Beschloss   Special guest presenters:  Michael Beschloss Katie Couric Margaret Engel Van Jones Kerry Kennedy Rory Kennedy Don Lemon Jane Mayer Natalie Morales Soledad O'Brien David Remnick John M. Seigenthaler   Narrator: Dennis Haysbert #RFKAwards We are grateful to Mortimer B. Zuckerman for his support of the 2020 Book and Journalism Awards ceremony.  Book Award Chair Michael Beschloss Historian and Author Journalism Awards Committee Chair Margaret Engel Director, Alicia Patterson Foundation 40th Annual Robert F. Kennedy Book Award The Robert F. Kennedy Book Award was established in 1980 with the proceeds from Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.'s best selling biography Robert Kennedy and His Times. Each year, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights presents an award to the book that, as Schlesinger said, "most faithfully and forcefully reflects Robert Kennedy's purposes—his concern for the poor and the powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must assure all young people a fair chance, and his faith that a free democracy can act to remedy disparities of power and opportunity." The Robert F. Kennedy Book Award has been recognized as one of the most prestigious honors an author can receive. 52nd Annual Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards Founded by the reporters who covered Robert F. Kennedy's historic 1968 presidential campaign, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards honor outstanding reporting on issues that reflect Robert Kennedy's concerns, including human rights, social justice, and the power of individual action in the United States and around the world. Winning entries in 13 categories provide insights into the causes, conditions, and remedies of human rights violations and injustice, and critical analyses of relevant policies, programs, individual actions, and private endeavors that foster positive change. The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards are among the few in which winners are determined by their peers. Past winners include the Washington Post, National Public Radio, CBS's 60 Minutes, ABC's 20/20, and HBO. W

Small Press Expo Announces Virtual Ignatz Awards and Cancellation of SPX 2020

Small Press Expo Announces Virtual Ignatz Awards and Cancellation of SPX 2020

For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard Email: warren@smallpressexpo.com Small Press Expo Announces Virtual Ignatz Awards and Cancellation of SPX 2020 Bethesda, Maryland – June, 4 2020 Media Release - SPX 2020, originally scheduled for September 12 - 13 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, will be cancelled due to the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. SPX will not have any in-person exhibitors room, programming or Ignatz Awards ceremony. The 2020 Ignatz Awards ceremony will be live-streamed on Saturday night, September 12, exact time TBD. The late-August timeframe will be the target date for the announcement of the details for the virtual awards ceremony. Over the next few weeks, Small Press Expo will be developing both the process and platform as to how Ignatz voting will be held, with a target of mid-late July to announce the details to the SPX community on voting for this years nominees. Due to the disruptions of the pandemic, the Ignatz submission timeframe has been extended to June 19. Here is the information to submit works for the Ignatz 2020 Awards. Small Press Expo is looking into holding some programming over the weekend of September 12, with a decision on this aspect of the show to come sometime this Summer. Online Resources for the SPX Community Part of the Small Press Expo's mission is to help, as best we can, the SPX Community in uncertain times such as these. To that end, SPX has identified some online resources that contain information about various grants, relief funds and other mechanisms to hopefully aid the SPX Community in weathering the current circumstances: Creative Capital Resources COVID19 Freelance Artist Resources Artist Trust COVID Resources I Care If You Listen Financial and Other Resources The Social Distancing Festival Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 650 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests. The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show. Small Press Expo P.O. Box 5704 Bethesda, Maryland 20824 www.smallpressexpo.com Email: press@smallpressexpo.com STAY CONNECTED ‌ ‌ ‌

Alexandra Bowman talks to Chelsea Saunders

Alexandra Bowman emailed me that she's got some interviews online -

Satire Can Save Us All and The Hilltop Show (i.e. me wearing two hats) sat down yesterday with Chelsea Saunders, an animator, African-American activist, and political cartoonist for The Nib, to talk about her view of the current political cartooning world, particularly in light of the events of the past week. 

Our extended interview will be split into four parts on YouTube, two parts of which are already released! We'd really appreciate a like on these videos--like, subscribe, turn the bell on! The other two videos should be up soon. 

Also, be sure to follow Chelsea at @che_saunders on Twitter and @chelsea_saunders on Instagram!  

Part 1: "Chelsea Saunders on Political Cartoning during the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests"

Part 2: "Chelsea Saunders on Satirizing Joe Biden and Trump in 2020" 

Part 3: ""The Nib" Cartoonist Chelsea Saunders on the Future of Satire and Political Cartoons

Big Planet Bethesda New hours and policies

CLOSED to walk-in traffic Curbside pickup: Wednesday 11-7 Thursday 11-3 Friday 3-7 Saturday 1-5 Closed other days     Curbside policy: Wait outside and call us, we will then charge your total and put a bag of your comics out on a table; don't approach if we or any other folks are at the table! Wear a mask. Thank you.   Bethesda phone: 301-654-6856 Copyright © 2020 Big Planet Comics, All rights reserved. You requested this service Our mailing address is: Big Planet Comics 4849 Cordell Ave. Bethesda, Md 20814

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "I Voted"

Definitely from DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock -

"I Voted"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3005

Bringing up the coffee and morning paper last Sunday morning, I caught about 15 seconds of MSNBC on the bedroom TV. Some "contributing analyst" on the morning show was discussing the nationwide uprising against police terrorism and yammering about how we needed to unite "street politics" with electoral politics — which made me want to bring up my coffee again, if you know what I mean.

Cripes, what a stupid twunt. Didn't she realize that the reason we're in the streets right now is because electoral politics is a failure? I and millions of others in this country have realized that electoralism is a big, hot sloppy bucket of fail, and that it's time to get our yellow vests on and vote in the streets.

Never mind how many times I've heard rag-chewing Liberal talking heads on cable TV news flapping their cakeholes about "peaceful" protest — jeezus, I could play a drinking game with the number of times I've heard some knob on TV talking about being "peaceful". F'crissake, man — I can't think of a single time in my life when any meaningful change was brought about by people being "peaceful". Hell, the State and Capital aren't being peaceful right now; why should the People feel obligated to be peaceful? Screw "peaceful".

SPX's 2020 Ignatz Submission Deadline EXTENSION

Hello friends!  Just sending out a quick reminder that the Ignatz submissions deadline has been extended to June 19, 2020. Some folks have asked, so to clarify, the books must have been published between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020 to be eligible. If you had planned on a book coming out during the period, but it was delayed, it would be eligible next year. Sorry, but otherwise everything will just get murkier and Davis knows we don't need more murkiness now. To review the submission process is: Fill out this form for each submission you are making, no matter what format or category PLEASE NOTE - Filling out the form is the only submission point for online comics!!!!! We are ONLY accepting PDFs this year for printed comics To submit the PDFs for your mini-comics, comics, graphic novels and anthologies for the SPX 2020 Ignatz Awards: Go to this shared public folder to drop PDFs of your comics. All you have to do is place your PDF in that folder, and we will get it to the Ignatz jurors For submissions of ONLINE comics, please We are ONLY accepting single-file PDFs of the comics - we cannot accept folders of files, or comics in other formats Each file must be named with the following naming convention: For mini-comics, comics and graphic novels: CreatorLastName.CreatorFirstName.Comic_Title.IssueNumber.Publisher.PubMonthPubYear.pdf For example: Hanselmann.Simon.Bad_Gateway.Fantagraphics.July2019.pdf NOTES: If there is no Issue Number, then do not put one in the file name If it is self published, put Self as the Publisher For anthologies:  EditorLastName.EditorFirstName.Comic_Title..Publisher.PubMonthPubYear.pdf For example: Newlavant.Hazel.Comics_for_Choice.Self.June2017.PDF NOTE: If there are multiple editors, use only the first one listed on the title page. Please do not assume we will figure out the creator's name, publisher, etc., as we simply won't have the time/person power Submissions must have been published between June 1, 2019 and May 30, 2020, and the deadline for all submissions is June 19, 2020 We'd kindly ask you to hold one print copy of each title for inclusion in the Library of Congress small press collection - ideally you'll be able to simply drop a copy off at SPX, or we'll arrange to have it mailed to us hopefully sometime later this year depending on the circumstances. Ok, that's it. Please let us know any questions you have, and thanks so much for making great art!! Dan, Francesca and everyone else at SPX Hit us up on Instagram, Twitter, or  Facebook for a quick reply. We're also happy to chat if you email us at dan@smallpressexpo.com. Copyright © 2020 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved.  You are getting this email because we know you might want a table to SPX 2020!!  Our mailing address is:  Small Press Expo P.O. Box 5704 Bethesda, Maryland 20824 ‌ ‌

Small Press Expo | P.O. Box 5704, Bethesda, MD 20824

Cavna on the upcoming Hidden Object Game in the Sunday funnies

Comics will salute essential workers by hiding symbols in their Sunday strips

Michael Cavna 

June 1, 2020 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/06/01/cartoons-essential-workers-loose-parts-dave-blazek/

The Post on Soviet animation

Cheburashka was the beloved misfit of Soviet animation. It's now a missing treasure for Russia. [Russia tries to reclaim treasured Soviet cartoon from Japanese studio].

Robyn Dixon 

Washington Post May 31, 2020 , p. A19

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/cheburashka-was-the-beloved-misfit-of-soviet-animation-its-now-a-missing-treasure-for-russia/2020/05/28/bc97283a-99cd-11ea-ad79-eef7cd734641_story.html

The Post recommends Robin Ha's new book

Bruce Guthrie wrote to me earlier today -

Tomorrow's Post's Arts & Style Section has an article on "Five new books for your teenager's seasonal reading pile".  One of them is "Almost American Girl" by Robin Ha.

The other four are:

 * "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendl

 * "Superman Smashes the Klan" by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru [also a graphic novel]

 * "Clap When You Land" by Elizabeth Acevedo

 * "Kent State" by Deborah Wiles

The article was written by Karen MacPherson, the children's and teen services coordinator for the library in Takoma Park, Md.

Those darn Wumo and Flashbacks

Not funny

Joyce Benson, Silver Spring

Washington Post May 29 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/readers-critique-the-post-dont-amplify-conspiracy-theories/2020/05/29/441e412c-a11b-11ea-9590-1858a893bd59_story.html

Regarding the May 15 "Wumo" comic strip:

The May 10 "Flashbacks" comic. (Patrick M. Reynolds)

'Dancing' around 'Shavuot'

Andrew Schotz, Hagerstown, Md.

Washington Post May 29 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/readers-critique-the-post-dont-amplify-conspiracy-theories/2020/05/29/441e412c-a11b-11ea-9590-1858a893bd59_story.html

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "George Floyd Everywhere"

From Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist -

"George Floyd, Everywhere"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3002

It wasn't just one cop who murdered George Floyd; it was America — the same America whose knee is crushing the throat of Iran, Venezuela, and dozens of other nations around the world.

Malaka Gharib on how to make a zine for NPR

How To Make A Mini-Zine About Life During The Pandemic

Malaka Gharib

May 28, 2020

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/28/863068957/how-to-make-a-mini-zine-about-life-during-the-pandemic

Roye Okupe's latest Kickstarter ends today

Today is the last day you can grab your SIGNED copy plus EXCLUSIVE bonuses.

Grab Your Copy Of Iyanu Kickstarter Today Before Time Runs Out

Iyanu - Child of Wonder Volume One

A teenage orphan girl with no recollection of her past suddenly discovers that she has abilities that rival the ancient gods!

Iyanu chronicles the journey of a teenage orphan girl with no recollection of her past, who suddenly discovers that she has abilities that rival the ancient deities of her people. It is these abilities that are the key to bringing back the age of wonders and saving a world on the brink of destruction at the hands of The Corrupt — Cursed Wildlife and Divine Beasts desperate to destroy humanity.

Catching up with the Lily's comics

In self-quarantine, my alarm and calendar stopped running my life. I hope that sticks.

Time is different now

Rachel Orr

Washington Post's The Lily May 24 2020

https://www.thelily.com/in-self-quarantine-my-alarm-and-calendar-stopped-running-my-life-i-hope-that-sticks/

Cavna on Trump golfing during coronavirus cartoons

Cartoons are skewering Trump's golfing against the backdrop of covid-19 deaths

By

Michael Cavna 

May 27, 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/05/27/cartoons-trump-golf-coronavirus-covid/

SATIRE CAN SAVE US ALL episode 9: Special guest Nick Anderson

SATIRE CAN SAVE US ALL episode 9: Special guest Nick Anderson

KAL

Satire Can Save Us All May 26 2020

https://www.facebook.com/satire2020/videos/256936912220220/

The Post on the return of the Justice League

The #SnyderCut of 'Justice League' was an Internet joke. Cinephiles should root for it.

Sonny Bunch 

Washington Post May 22, 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/22/snydercut-justice-league-was-an-internet-joke-cinephiles-should-root-it/

Tre Johnson on masking and superheroes

The coronavirus has made the waking world into a dreamscape [in print as The virus has turned our waking lives into a dreamscape]

Our masks make us look like superheroes. So why do we still feel so helpless?

By Tre Johnson 

Washington Post May 24, 2020 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/05/20/coronavirus-has-made-waking-world-into-dreamscape/

That darn Dustin

People aren't exotic

Molly Jackman, Kensington

Washington Post May 23 2020

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/readers-critique-the-post-a-photograph-of-otherworldly-beauty/2020/05/22/9327ebd8-9c4d-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html

Miller interviews Rubenstein

 David Miller writes in, "I just did an interview with Joe Rubinstein on my new Comics Prisoner show." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fgiiyjQ04Y&t=8s

Episode 11 - Incredible Inkers: A Talk With Joe Rubinstein - YouTube Today Joe Rubinstein drops by the paper prison to check out his wares and discovers the Comics Prisoner squatting in one of his pages. We have a nice talk and learn a lot. Drop by and enjoy! While ... www.youtube.com

The Washington School of Cartooning, just about a century ago

Warren Bernard  wrote in, "When Maryland re-opened some stuff, my sister and I went out to an antiques mall in Hagerstown. She spotted this gem:

"I had never seen a cartoon course diploma, no less one from 1924  from the only DC area cartoon school, run by Will Chandlee, who worked for the Evening Star in the 19th Century. The office for the cartoon school was on 15th St for a while and the most famous graduate was Frank Godwin. I also have a promo booklet from the school, and that's how I found out about Godwin."

Thanks to Warren for sharing this bit of The Secret History of Comics.