Keeping Tradition Alive: Editorial Cartoonist Greg Kearney’s Fight for His Art

In today’s media landscape, editorial cartooning is facing tough challenges as digital platforms rise and print newspapers decline. However, Kansas-based cartoonist Greg Kearney is one of the few artists determined to keep the tradition alive.

📍 A Career Spanning Over 50 Years

Kearney started drawing cartoons as a high school student in the 1970s. His first professional work was published in the Waterville Sentinel in 1972. Since then, he has continued as a freelance cartoonist, providing illustrations for newspapers across different states in the U.S.

✍️ Continuing to Draw Despite a Shrinking Industry

With the decline of print media, editorial cartoonists are finding it harder to sustain their work. According to the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, only 105 members are currently active, but Kearney believes the actual number is even lower.

📰 Why Did Newspapers Abandon Cartoonists?

Kearney argues that newspapers made a mistake by removing popular content like editorial cartoons:

“Cartoonists were some of the most loved parts of newspapers. But they let them go. And then they wondered why people stopped reading? Well, they removed the most engaging sections.”

😼 Vic: The Sassy Cat in Every Cartoon

One signature feature in Kearney’s cartoons is Vic the cat, a small yet bold character often seen commenting on the main scene. Inspired by Victor Runtz, a cartoonist from the 1970s, Kearney included Vic as an homage, adding a sharp, humorous perspective to his work.

🗳️ His Political Stance and Editorial Freedom

Identifying as a “New Deal labor Democrat,” Kearney’s cartoons frequently focus on workers’ rights and government policies. However, working as a freelancer means he doesn’t have an editor as a safety net:

“Editors used to be my safety net. Now, if my cartoon sparks controversy, I have to deal with the backlash alone.”

📡 The Digital Advantage: Reaching a Wider Audience

Despite the decline of print media, digital platforms have helped Kearney reach audiences faster than ever. He can now send his cartoons to publications within seconds, making his work accessible to a larger audience through smartphones and computers.

🖊️ Curious about how traditional editorial cartoons can survive in a digital world?

📢 #EditorialCartoons #GregKearney #JournalismMatters #PressFreedom #Cartooning

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