Political Cartooning Lecture

Political Cartooning:
Identifying the role of Journalism visuals
Ric Jayson B. Abasola

BA Journalism
UP- Diliman
Political cartooning: Identifying nthe role of journalism visualc
We will be looking into:

• What is political cartooning
• Why do we need to exert a good amount of
effort to create a good one
• Some techniques
• Importance
• As an editor, what are our roles when it comes to
this aspect of Journalism
• Personal point of view, experiences and tips that
may be considered
• What is a cartoon?
- a piece of art, usually humorous in intent
- satirical drawings
- Rooted from 1843’s Punch Magazine
- Then it evolved…
- …. coined the word Political Cartooning
Political cartoon
- Words that we can incorporate with this kind of
visual
- lampoon/parody
- sarcasm/ satire/ irony (convey insults)
- ridicule (intended to mock or humiliate)
- humour (for laugh)
- exaggeration
Elements of a good Political cartoon

- Subject (with other visual elements)
- movement
- caricature
- speech balloon
- Based on pressing issues (local/ national)
- With great aesthetic value (creative and new)
- Key elements should be present
Editorial Cartoon
-The institution’s stand on certain issue
-Shapes public opinion
-Informing, explaining
-A political point of view
-A medium that communicates effectively
(at least in print)
-A campaign
address the subject over and over again
Editorial Cartoon
Editorial cartoons are found almost exclusively in news
publications and news websites. Although they also
employ humor, they are more serious in tone,
commonly using irony or satire. The art usually acts
as a visual metaphor to illustrate a point of view on
current social and/or political topics. Editorial
cartoons often include speech balloons and,
sometimes, multiple panels.
Editorial Cartoon
Purpose
- inspire debate
- suggests change/ advocate
Editorial Cartoon
-Its not always,
‘ the funnier the cartoon the better– the substance is
always been important’
-You have to show your audience your point
- it might be misinterpreted
- Like news- angle should be identified first
- Same process should happen
Editorial Cartoon
-Remember: you want a reaction
-Caricature uplift the cartoon, without this there’s no
parody, no exaggeration, no satire
-Open-minded
-Critical, creative
-Weird and imaginative
-Think big
An Editorial cartoon should be:
- simple
- humour derives from the caricature
- makes a point without using dialogue
- graphically PUNCHY
- Cartoon still go to the approval of the editors

- A cartoonist should have an open communication
with the editor
‘its not ideal for him to work alone’
-Nurture and develop your thought process to create
a creative cartoon
-Elicit response from your reader
- if not, your wasting their time and your time
Political cartooning: Identifying the role of journalism visuals
- Study other cartoonists

- Build your portfolio, practice consistently
- Scan the news daily and jot down topics
- Forego humor in times of tragedy
- Use the shading techniques
- Its not always about art, should have interest in
politics– substance
- Check your facts
How to Conceptualize
1. Read/listen—research your facts well.
2. Decide on your point of view or angle of your
chosen issue.
3. Make your comment on the issue.
4. Translate your comment into coordinating,
representative graphic symbols (e.g.
crocodile for corrupt officials and typewriter
for press)
5. Take into consideration the paper’s target

readers.
6. Sketch/make doodles.
7. Draw your final cartoon
Ways to Present your Views

1. Take the issue to a ridiculous situation.
2. Exaggerate the effect of an issue.
3. Use cliché or something contemporary or “in.”
4. Juxtapose or put together two events, even
unrelated ones.
5. Take quotes literally. Play with words.
6. Consider the occasion.
7. Make an interesting artwork.
8. Caricature a political figure and add a punch
line.
These Steps Might Help…

1. List down the subjects to choose from.
2. Once the subject is chosen, ask what is the
issue? What is the paper’s opinion about the
issue?
Example:
Issue—Press freedom
Opinion—The government is going back to the
martial law days as far as press freedom is
concerned.
3. Decide the symbols to be used

Example:
Government—GMA
Press freedom—bird (dove) flying, typewriter,
school paper
Repression—chain, scissors, slingshot, bar
4. Draw the cartoon.

More Tips…
1. Limit the use of words and labels.
2. Use universal symbols, those which can be
understood at once by your intended reader.
3. Have your own style. Do not copy or
plagiarize.
4. If your cartoon is about the editorial for the
day, it must reinforce the stand stated in the
piece.
5. Choose a most interesting issue and express

your comment in an arresting way.
6. Do not clutter your cartoon with unnecessary
details or complicate your drawing with
artistic touches. These will just distract from
the impact of the cartoon. Minimal is better.
7. Use shading to make your article more
convincing and enticing.
“ Politics is a large jigsaw puzzle full of

constantly moving parts– the puzzle never
solves, it just moves every now and then “
Thank you!!!!

Political Cartooning Lecture

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Political Cartooning Lecture

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Political Cartooning:

Identifying the role of Journalism visuals

Ric Jayson B. Abasola

We will be looking into:

Elements of a good Political cartoon

An Editorial cartoon should be:

- Cartoon still go to the approval of the editors

- Study other cartoonists

5. Take into consideration the paper’s target

Ways to Present your Views

These Steps Might Help…

3. Decide the symbols to be used

4. Draw the cartoon.

5. Choose a most interesting issue and express

“ Politics is a large jigsaw puzzle full of

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