The Firing of Tony Doris: Censorship or Editorial Standards?

Veteran journalist Tony Doris, the editorial page editor of The Palm Beach Post, was recently fired by Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in the U.S., after publishing a controversial cartoon on the war in Gaza. His dismissal raises questions about press freedom, media independence, and corporate influence on editorial decisions.

The Controversial Cartoon

The cartoon, drawn by Jeff Danziger, depicted two Israeli soldiers rescuing a hostage from Hamas. The dialogue read:

“Some Israeli hostages are home after over a year of merciless war.”

Meanwhile, one of the soldiers says, “Watch your step”, as they walk over piles of bodies labeled “over 40,000 Palestinians killed.”

Doris, a Jewish journalist and a supporter of Israel, saw the cartoon as an antiwar statement, not an antisemitic one. However, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County strongly condemned it, accusing the cartoon of trivializing Israeli hostages and fueling antisemitism.

The Backlash and Gannett’s Response

Following the cartoon’s publication:

• The Jewish Federation took out a full-page ad in The Palm Beach Post denouncing the image.
• Gannett suspended Doris within days.
• A meeting was held between Gannett’s senior editors and Jewish community leaders, including Michael Hoffman, the president of the federation.
• Doris was fired shortly after, allegedly for violating company policies—although Gannett did not specify which policies.

Gannett later issued a statement saying the cartoon “did not meet our standards” and that they had “taken appropriate action to prevent this from happening again.”

Free Speech or Corporate Control?

Doris defended his decision, saying:

“The job of a newspaper opinion page is to raise important issues for the community. Democracy needs journalists who care about the mission and not just about page views.”

Cartoonist Jeff Danziger, a Vietnam War veteran with a Jewish father, dismissed the antisemitism claim:

“It was simply a case of, ‘this war’s gone on long enough.’”

The case highlights the growing tension between editorial independence and corporate oversight in the media. Was Doris rightfully dismissed for violating company guidelines, or was this a case of censorship under pressure from external groups?

What do you think? Share your thoughts below.