The Chron wants that P-word added to its stable so bad:
Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Nick Anderson had joined the editorial page staff of the Houston Chronicle.
Anderson was recognized as the best political cartoonist in the country by the 2005 Pulitzer Prize committee. The judges noted his idiosyncratic drawing style that “produced extraordinarily thoughtful and powerful message (sic).”
Fiercely independent, Anderson reserves that right to skewer deserving politicians and other public figures no matter what their party or ideology. Using words and images, he is also adept at relating events and issues to readers’ lives.
Jeff Cohen, the Chronicle’s executive vice president and editor, said, “I am delighted to add to the Chronicle’s staff a journalist of Anderson’s caliber. He is a master of using visual metaphor and pointed sketches to illuminate the issue of the day and the people who shape our world.”
Oh right! No doubt he’s an equal opportunity skewerer.
PowerLine blog took a look at Anderson’s visual metaphor mastery when he was awarded the Pulitzer. John Hinderaker’s conclusion:
Am I missing something, or is this a pathetic body of work, as whiny, self-pitying and incompetent as it is hateful? It’s of a piece, though, with the journalism that the Pulitzer committee found worthy of reward this year. Loyalty to the Democratic party and antipathy toward America are the only qualities that count.
Well, we know that’s what often counts at the Houston Chronicle, so Anderson will be a perfect fit!
Whoever wrote today’s op-ed called Anderson’s work “subtle but engaging.” Check out the sampling of Anderson’s work in the PowerLine post and see how subtle and engaging he is.
Then Anderson says:
I am looking forward to exploring Houston as a place to live and work, and carrying out the ambitious vision that the editors at the Houston Chronicle have for their staff cartoonist.”
Now, if we could just get the Chron editors to muster up an ambitious vision for something besides the staff cartoonist.
As an aside, have you noticed how HPD and the Chronicle have something in common? HPD focuses on grooming standards instead of 2005’s markedly increased murder rate; the Chronicle focuses on a cartoonist instead of basic journalism. Heck, we could add Metro in this: Metro focuses on shiny toy trains instead of basic transit services. A pattern is emerging.
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