A PRIZE-WINNING EDITORIAL CARTOONIST NAVIGATES TURBULENT POLITICAL TIMES BY ETHAN POWERS In 2004, Buffalo News editor says Zyglis. “Regardless of their political he placed second in Margaret Sullivan (now Washington slant or whether they agree with my Editorial Cartoon Contest. He chose Post media columnist)pulled work, everyone was just really proud. to study computer graphics/animation illustration intern Adam Zyglis into her I got congratulations even from the at Canisius College after he heard that office and informed him that he was to critics. It was just a humbling moment one of the program’s students, who had become the News’s editorial cartoonist. that I’ll never forget.” been hired by LucasArts, went on to Baffled, Zyglis waited for some type of Before he won the Pulitizer, which win an Oscar for technical design work directive from his new editor. She had was preceded by the Clifford K. and on Yoda (of The Empire Strikes Back just five words for him: “Now go win a James T. Berryman Award for Editorial and other Star Wars series films). Pulitzer.” Cartooning in 2013 and the presidency But while Zyglis appreciated the Eleven years later, Zyglis, now thir- of the Association of American Editorial meticulous craftsmanship necessary ty-two, sits at his desk in 1 News Pla- Cartoonists (AAEC), among other to turn sketch art into full-motion za on a Monday afternoon in April. He honors, Zyglis was a Buffalo kid who animation, the process remained, for is behind on his 3 p.m. deadline, and liked to draw. him, too reliant on the collective. “In scribbles furiously in order to get a car- He developed his first concept for a animation, you’re sort of this small cog toon prepped for print. On his com- continuing story, which revolved around that’s part of a much larger machine,” puter streams the press conference a group of Madagascar monkeys, when the cartoonist says. “I’m very much a announcing the Pulitzer Prize winners he was seven. His parents quickly real- loner in life in many ways. I have strong for 2015. Zyglis, a nominee, pays only ized his talents and put him into a sum- opinions and like being my own boss, so a passing attention to the words ema- mer art program at the University at I realized the work I was doing wasn’t nating from the screen, as he considers Buffalo. In eighth grade, Zyglis experi- really fitting my personality.” the odds of his name being called to be enced his first cartooning success when Zyglis’s first class at Canisius was astronomical. He also notices that the

Buffalo News stream on his computer is experiencing a slight delay. Engaged in his work, Zyglis hears a collection of screams from the newsroom. His phone begins to buzz with congratulatory texts. He looks out toward the rows of desks to see a group of fellow employees marching toward him, cheering and clapping. And then he hears his name announced as the winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning.

- December 3, 2016, Adam Zyglis, the “It was days of just exhilarating adrenaline. I couldn’t sleep. I was try- ing to get back to everyone who was reaching out to me,” Zyglis says. In the immediate aftermath of what was

Post-truth world surely a pinnacle of his career, the car- toonist remained in his chair for three hours, finishing the cartoon he had been working on prior to hearing the announcement. The weeks that followed, he recalls, were filled with TV and radio interviews and requests for speaking engagements.

Zyglis portrait by kc kratt; “Buffalo shines in moments like this,”

98 April 2017 www.buffalospree.com www.buffalospree.com April 2017 99 As any journalist will readily admit, extinguishing a candle with the words, criticized the leadership of President an essential part of the job is the con- “Sandy Hook legacy.” It was a poignant Obama for example, which he says at sumption of information, and Zyglis protest of the NRA’s disturbingly long times has been “problematic.” researches as many topics as possible, reach in the American political sphere. “Sometimes, you really need sev- including those he isn’t interested in or Such blunt assertions are bound eral cartoons to really round out an hadn’t previously considered as sourc- to draw both applause and criticism, issue,” he says. “People will just see es of inspiration. Sometimes, ideas for and Zyglis gets a significant amount of the one and assume they know every- cartoons will manifest in the shower or both. He tries to respond to everyone thing about me based on one car- while driving, forcing Zyglis to scram- “unless they’re swearing” at him, and toon.” Zyglis felt that kind of gross ble for a pen and paper to jot down the he fully comprehends that dialogue misperception when he tackled the concept. with readers is an integral part of his Altemio Sanchez murders in 2007. While most would assume that job. “As a political cartoonist, my Now known infamously as the “Bike news that dominates the national responsibility is to ignite some kind Path Rapist,” Sanchez murdered at headlines is welcome ammunition of discussion or debate,” Zyglis states. least three women and raped sever- for a daily cartoonist, Zyglis cautions “With that in mind, I should have an al others around Western New York that big events come with added opinion, not just an observation.” The during a twenty-five-year span. Fol- pressure. “When it’s huge news, it’s a cartoonist opposes being referred to lowing Sanchez’s arrest, Zyglis pub- double-edged sword; you’re expected as a “pundit,” however, because his lished a cartoon depicting a panicked to comment in some way, so you feel opinions can and do change. woman telling a Buffalo police officer, obligated to,” he says. “You also know When readers actually speak with “A man driving this car raped me!” that every other cartoonist is doing the him, he says, it’s as if they’re surprised while holding a license plate num- same thing, so you want to stand out in that he’s “not a crazy socialist ber. An arrow labeled, “Twenty-six the discussion.” screaming at everyone in the editorial years, eight rapes, and three years lat- Zyglis has made a habit out of being room.” While Zyglis admits that his er” points to a second frame in which unique to that discussion. His cartoons beliefs tend to be progressive on issues the officer is telling the woman, “We run the gamut from acerbic barbs to such as social justice, human rights, caught the man who drove that car!” passionate statements. Following the and the environment, he firmly resists as he holds the same license plate Newtown, Connecticut, shooting in being categorized as a liberal, believing number that the woman was hold- 2012, Zyglis portrayed an outstretched that thoughtful people should not have ing in the first frame. The implication arm, branded “NRA,” holding the top of preconceived notions going into any that the Buffalo Police Department the Capitol building as a candle snuffer, particular issue. He has previously made oversights on such a high-profile

taught by Tom Joyce, the well-regarded Zyglis learned that the News was begin- developed a distinctive visual style, but literature professor who passed away in ning to rethink that perspective, but his even a Pulitzer winner does not create

2013. Joyce was also moderator of the excitement dissipated when he found without a degree of self-doubt. Early in Buffalo News college’s student newspaper, The Grif- out that management was interview- his career, Zyglis noticed that when he fin, and talked Zyglis into joining the ing other Pulitzer winners for the job, found he had a lot of time to develop a staff. Zyglis began publishing two car- including Clay Bennett (then at the single cartoon, he would often diminish toons a week: a political cartoon and a Christian Science Monitor) and Ann the idea by overthinking it. student life comic strip. It was a side- Talnaes of the Washington Post. Such an addiction to precision line that ultimately became his desig- Nonetheless, Zyglis formally applied can be ubiquitous across any and all nated career path. for the job, and to his amazement, he creative platforms. In South Park’s After completing his senior thesis was chosen. Zyglis chalks his hiring up behind the scenes documentary, 6

on the deconstruction of political car- to the fact that he was “local, cheaper, Days to Air, co-creator Trey Parker - May 13, 2016, Adam Zyglis, toons, he landed a freelance gig with and nowhere near as good,” but Marga- comments on the significance of the Artvoice. Zyglis submitted a cartoon a ret Sullivan saw potential in him. unalterable deadline. Without it, he week and was given a small stipend. It It was a potential that was not imme- says, he and his team would spend was his first experience receiving mon- diately recognized by News higher-ups. weeks on one show, constantly revising etary compensation for a hobby that he Zyglis recalls constant clashes with Jer- comedic content, changing animations, hadn’t believed had professional poten- ry Goldberg, then editor of the editorial or reworking the narrative, only to Complete streets tial. page, whom he describes as a character arrive at a marginally better product. That notion changed when Zyglis cut and pasted from Spider-Man’s Daily It’s a notion that is not lost on Zyglis, became an art department intern at Bugle—complete with suspenders and who says that while he’s rarely the News in 2004. Three years earli- rapid speaking. fully satisfied with a cartoon upon er, another News Pulitzer-winning car- “It just seemed like, at the time, completion, he’s perfected a system 2016, - April 17, toonist, , had left for the he was fighting every idea I gave him, that allows him to complete each work Washington Post. The News left the because it would disagree with the edi- with some degree of accomplishment. position unfilled as it considered follow- torial board,” says Zyglis. However, His process includes three main factors: ing a similar model that other papers Sullivan made it known that his ideas a message that he wants to convey, a across the county were adopting—using should be treated like a separate col- concept or idea for the drawing, and the syndicated services rather than paying umn, not necessarily in tune with those drawing itself, which acts as a conduit a full-time editorial cartoonist. displayed by the board. in portraying the cartoon’s overlying

Toward the end of his internship, Zyglis believes he has finally themes. Goldman Sachs settlement

100 April 2017 www.buffalospree.com www.buffalospree.com April 2017 101 murder investigation did not sit well itself to scrutiny and subjectivity. if it would get in the way of the mes- with local law enforcement. Zyglis believes the answer is some- sage,” he says. “I’m not the type of per- EDITORIAL CARTOONING IN THE AGE OF TRUMP “The police chief demanded I apol- where in the middle. He supports the son to start a fire just to burn people.” ogize,” says Zyglis. “Cops were call- decision to give Hebdo the award, and Zyglis inadvertently became the face You mentioned that as the toons, I want to ask you about tion, however, is I’m hearing from tions. Journalists and cartoonists ing me all day saying, ‘If you call 911, while he comprehends the indispens- of the Buffalo News’s union strike last outgoing president of the the online commenters. my supporters much more often. will need to remain focused on you think we’re going to help you? We ability of free speech operating outside summer after winning the Pulitzer. Con- AAEC, you’ve been discussing When you draw something The frequency of hate mail has re- what’s important. know you’re a city resident.’ It was just of some selective vacuum, he believes tract talks between the union and the a possible legal defense fund that is critical of a particular mained about the same, though There’s the notion that we insane.” those who exercise such rights also News’s corporate management stalled, and renewing our focus on point of view—which in turn the tone has certainly intensified. now live in a “post-truth age,” Despite the backlash, as the staff objected to free speech. I was wondering causes supporters of that It’s only been a few months in which facts are no lon- Zyglis says he also began the News’s $55 million if you could elaborate on how viewpoint to lash out at you since Trump has entered the ger a part of the conversa- to see the focus of the in profits over five years this decision came about. personally—is there some White House, and we have tion. In order to discern why conversation fundamen- while neglecting to pro- We are exploring the idea of a form of gratification as a re- already seen an almost in- voters believe what they be- tally shift because of the vide the staff with a pay legal defense fund for cartoonists. sult of extracting that kind of comprehensible litany of lieve, journalists must be- cartoon’s impact. Ques- increase during that peri- The idea, which is only in concept evocative reaction, regard- controversy, including the gin to understand the context tions began to arise as to od. In July 2015, a ten- form at the moment, came from less of it being a negative or resignation of a top US offi- and the external factors that whether Buffalo police tative agreement was , the current pres- positive one? cial and a\ ban on immigra- led to their perspectives. Yet, could have done more to reached, due in no small ident of the AAEC. This will like- I’ve always said one of my goals tion that wound up in court. when those perspectives are connect the dots. To Zyg- part to the impact of Zyg- ly remain a concept right now as is to provoke thought and spark a You have a heap of material derived from facts and sta- lis, the cartoon stands as lis’s award and the pres- we wait and see just tistics that are de- a testament to the power tige it carries. As that how hostile Trump monstrably false, of editorial cartooning in two-year agreement will be to the press. It how do you begin influencing dialogue on expires, the staff is nego- came about by look- to put that kind an issue. “That’s the one tiating a new contract for ing to other countries of simulated truth time I can say a cartoon 2017 and beyond, and with strongman lead- under your lens? was really instrumental it’s even more of a battle ers where cartoonists Is there even a so- in moving the needle on this time around. get sued and even lution to resist- a local level,” he says. In addition, in what is imprisoned for defa- ing a constituency On an internation- now known as “the age mation and libel. Ad- who believes “al- al level, the debate of Trump,” Zyglis feels ditionally, statements ternative facts” surrounding what consti- that cartooning has tak- from Trump and his have the same ve- tutes an acceptable elas- en on a new import, giv- advisors have giv- racity as actual ticity of “free speech” en that the president en free speech advo- facts? came to a head in Jan- has declared the media cates cause for alarm, “Alternative facts” uary 2015, when two his enemy and regular- to say the least. Aside and “fake news” are Islamic radicals stormed ly demonstrates disdain from referring to jour- a disease on our na- the offices of Charlie for satire and dissent. As nalists as “scum,” tion’s social capi- Hebdo in Paris, killing the outgoing president he’s promised to tal. Addressing this eleven in the building and of the AAEC, Zyglis has open libel laws on the is difficult when the injuring eleven others. been discussing a pos- campaign trail and leader of the free PEN America, an organi- sible legal defense fund has been notorious- world is spouting zation of writers and cre- and renewing his focus ly thin skinned to his falsehoods on a dai- atives, announced that it on free speech. SNL treatment. Plus, ly basis and labeling would honor the satirical Zyglis has placed the he has a highly liti- legitimate news or- magazine at its literary chaotic ecstasy of win- gious history. ganizations as “fake gala that May with the ning a Pulitzer firm- Steve Bannon, news.” How do we Toni and James C. Goo- ly behind him. For him, the president’s chief strate- dialogue with the readers. So, yes, to work with. Does that make handle this alternative fact con- dale Freedom of Expres- the award is not the apex gist, proclaimed the media to getting a strong response, posi- it easier to do your job, or is stituency, or cult following, as I sion Courage Award. As of his craft; rather, it’s a be “the opposition party.” Do tive or negative, does tell me I am there a challenge when you think of it? What we can’t do is a result, 204 members of manifestation of the qual- you find yourself emboldened doing something right. But, you’d have such a daunting array of legitimize these baseless beliefs the organization signed ity of his work as well as by this kind of rhetoric? be mistaken if you thought I pur- targets? by creating a false equivalence. a letter condemning the the influence enacted— It’s incredibly anti-democrat- posely try to stir the pot as vigor- The staggering amount of mate- This has been trickier for report- award on the basis that the tangible result of - December 6, 2016; ic for the second most powerful ously as possible, so to speak. To rial has been both a blessing and a ers. The media must weather the Hebdo, through their the hours spent laboring man in the White House to say provoke for the sake of provoking curse. On one hand, I never have storm of subjective truth by stay- depictions of Prophet over a paper-filled desk, those words publicly. But, hon- would be irresponsible. I aim to ex- to dig too deep these days to find ing the course, and doing so Muhammad, “intended pencil in hand. “The Buffalo News estly, those remarks didn’t, and press a message that is relevant an injustice, a folly, or an outrage. forcefully and consistently. That to cause further humilia- motivation was never to shouldn’t, change my approach. and important to the public dis- But, on the other hand, consum- means calling out lies and fabrica- Fearsome Rex Fearsome Rex tion and suffering” to an already mar- have a responsibility to use them with win anything,” he says. “It’s just been Washington Post editor Marty cussion. And if, in the process, I ir- ing the news can be overwhelm- tions for what they are. Cartoon- ginalized population. a certain amount of reverence. “As to produce the best work possible, to be Baron summed it up nicely: “We’re ritate a whole lot of people—and ing. It’s like drinking from a fire ists have greater latitude on what Defenders of Hebdo contended that a satirist, I try to be very empathetic respected by your peers, and to make not at war with the administration. often do—then, so be it. What’s hose. To do my kind of work re- we say, and, as a commentator, I the magazine has historically been an to the situations of others,” he says. an impact. The award is just the biggest We’re at work.” We should take troubled me in recent years, es- sponsibly and effectively means try and attack the deeper forces equal opportunity offender, mercilessly “When you do that, a lot of stuff they form of encouragement that you’re on the same critical look at those in pecially since the rise of Trump, is choosing my targets carefully and at play here, like the exploitation of satirizing every major religion and poli- were doing that would offend the Mus- the right track.” power, whether we are provoked how this “response” has devolved precisely. These days, it’s chal- fear, bigotry, and xenophobia. For tician without exception, and that what lim community was over the line. I’ll 1, 2017; - February or not. If Bannon’s goal was to cre- into shouting about our basic dis- lenging when you have five things those in power, lies can be a pow- Hebdo was mocking was not Islam, defend their right to do it, but I would Ethan Powers is an editor for Bee News and ate any hesitation in using satire to agreement on the given “facts.” If you want to say on an almost dai- erful tool.

but fundamentalism. They also ques- never do anything like that personally.” freelance writer who has published in local and Adam Zyglis, 4, 2017, - February criticize the president, his words you gauged our democracy by the ly basis. Some theorize this is part tioned the concept of artists having to Would Zyglis himself draw the national outlets. did just the opposite. content of my inbox, I’d say we are of Trump’s strategy, to overwhelm – Ethan Powers precalibrate their speech based on the Prophet Muhammad if given the prop- Speaking of being embold- not going in an upward direction. his opposition, the media, by mov- comparative societal status of their sub- er pretext? “Would it help the point I’m ened by reactions to your car- The one positive since the elec- ing so quickly and creating distrac-

jects—an argument that further opens trying to make? Is it worth it? I feel as Nation of immigrants Cleanup duty

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