Bloghorn notices that when political cartoonists pick the same targets, they often pick the same jokes, or at least variations on a similar theme.

This can be seen in the national press today as three heavyweight cartoonists give their take on Lord Goldsmith appearing before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.

One: Peter Brookes in The Times suggests he was leant on

Two: Steve Bell in The Guardian thinks pressure was applied

Three: Dave Brown in The Independent on suggests arm-twisting

Of course, all these cartoonists are working at the same time, operating under the same time pressures – there’s no suggestion of copying! – which makes it all the more a fascinating insight into the way cartoonists’ minds work. Thanks to Andy Davey for drawing it to our attention.

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The Guardian Theatre Blog has a piece on putting cartoons and animation on the stage, as seen in a new production of The Cat in the Hat, and in the Daily Telegraph’s Alex, left.

Read it here: Drawing power: when cartoons and theatre meet

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 9th October 2009.

One: Matt in the Daily Telegraph on the Conservatives becoming more frank

Two: Dave Brown in the Independent on being in it together

Three: Robert Leighton in the New Yorker on driving and texting

Bonus Video: The Guardian’s Steve Bell explains why he draws David Cameron as a jellyfish

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Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 11th September 2009.

One: Colin Whittock in the Birmingham Mail: Missing the old days

Two: Steve Bell in The Guardian: A sick joke

Three: Gordon Gurvan (GG) in The Spectator:
And what do you do?

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Former editor of The Guardian, Peter Preston has written a piece in The Observer newspaper bemoaning the decline in numbers of editorial or political cartoonists being used in newspapers. You can read it here.

Preston focuses on recent job losses in the United States, which mirror the speedy decline of the print media there, but this trend has been long established. The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists made an awareness campaign – Black Ink Monday - back in 2005 in which all the practising professionals in US newspapers devoted a day’s work to highlighting a decline in the published drawn art form.

So, Bloghorn thinks Preston’s observations are a simple statement of fact. There are many fewer cartoonists employed by both UK and US newspapers than there were in the heyday of the print media before the advent of the 24 hour digital publication tools.

The decline in the use of print cartoon content comes as the media companies who own the print products reduce their costs to try and maintain their profits in competition with the digital media.

Preston also argues the digital media doesn’t suit the traditional drawn forms of communication, Bloghorn doesn’t agree on this point, but thinks the old print and emerging digital media industry is yet to find right method of presentation for the future of drawing about life.

If you know better please tell us why in the comments below.

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 31st July 2009.

One: Mike Williams in The Spectator: “Excuse me, could you pass me that magazine?”

Two: Martin Rowson in The Guardian: Waiting for the Iraq inquiry

Three: Morten Morland in The Times: Too many twits

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Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 26th June 2009.

One: Christian Adams in the Daily Telegraph: on the Iraq inquiry

Two: Kipper Williams in The Guardian on bankers

Three: Glen LeLievre in Prospect in Narnia

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MPs are back in the news again with the release of their heavily blacked-out expense reports, so Bloghorn has a special round-up of the best of the redacted, censored and otherwise obscured cartoons for the week ending the 19th June 2009.

One: Matt in the Daily Telegraph gives us a historical perspective on the story.

Two: Mac in the Daily Mail shows us a sneak preview of the upcoming Iraq enquiry testimony from Gordon Brown.

Three: There’s a brand-spanking new ceremonial role in the Houses of Parliament in Peter Brookes cartoon for The Times…

Four: …whilst Dave Brown lets it all hang out in the open for the Independent

Five: Steve Bell in The Guardian goes with Tony Blair’s knowledge of torture in interrogations.

Six: It’s all done in the best possible taste for Andy Davey in the Sun

Seven and Eight: …and finally, Paul Thomas in the Daily Express and Tim Sanders in the Independent just can’t find the words…

Note: in the spirit of openness, and unlike the Goverment, Bloghorn believes that you should know all about this. Simply highlight the text above to reveal the redacted sections.

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The Guardian recently ran this piece on a series of political caricatures of the candidates in the upcoming Iranian presidential elections. The cartoons are (unsurprisingly) anonymous, and are being distributed virally by email and blogs.

Earlier political events in Iran have been covered in cartoon form by Marjane Satrapi in her graphic novel (and later movie) Persepolis. More Bloghorn coverage of Persepolis can be found here.

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 8th May 2009.

One: Matt in the Daily Telegraph: Atishoo!

Two: Ros Asquith in The Guardian on loyal service

Three: Alex Matthews in Prospect on projecting the right image

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