A longtime editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post, Ann Ternes, resigned from her position following a dispute over a cartoon she submitted. The cartoon depicted notable tech and media executives, including Jeff Bezos, bowing to President-elect Donald Trump while holding a bag of money. Ternes criticized the billionaire leaders for trying to gain Trump’s favor through their actions.
Ternes, who joined The Washington Post in 2008 and is a Pulitzer Prize winner, expressed her frustration in a Substack post. She noted that, despite previous disagreements over her work, her cartoons had never been rejected for their subject matter until this instance. She felt the decision to reject her cartoon represented a significant and dangerous shift for press freedom.
The Washington Post confirmed Ternes’ resignation, explaining that the cartoon was rejected due to its repetitive nature rather than its content. David Shipley, the opinion editor, clarified that he had recently published similar content and intended to publish more, which influenced his decision to ask Ternes to reconsider her resignation.
In her farewell post, Ternes referenced other controversies associated with Bezos’ ownership of the paper, including the editorial board’s withdrawal from endorsing presidential candidates for the November election. She emphasized the importance of her role as an editorial cartoonist, stating that it is crucial to hold powerful figures accountable, a responsibility she felt was hindered by the editorial decision. Ternes concluded by reaffirming her commitment to speaking truth to power, suggesting that democracy is threatened without such accountability.