Some especially those who work for smaller newspapers or who are freelance are engaging in self-censorship to ensure
Some, especially those who work for smaller newspapers or who are freelance, are engaging in self-censorship to ensure their work gets used.”There is immense pressure [from] readers and advertisers to toe the patriotic line as they define it,” said Steve Benson, widely considered one of America’s leading political cartoonists, who draws for The Arizona Republic and who syndicates his work. Now cartoonists, often the most biting political commentators of all, say they are feeling the same pressures.Excessive patriotic zeal exerted by editors and publishers means that many “progressive” cartoonists are having their work dropped. Those who refuse to bend to such pressure face having their work rejected, being fired or even publicly humiliated by the President’s press secretary.Last month the veteran TV anchor Dan Rather sparked controversy when he said the patriotism engulfing the country had stopped the media asking difficult questions of America’s leaders, and admitted he personally was guilty of such self-censorship. They are largely black and white (and read all over) but George Bush wants to colour them red, white and blue.
Nine months after the attacks of 11 September, leading American political cartoonists say they are under intense pressure to conform to a patriotic stereotype and not criticise the actions of Mr Bush and his “war on terror”.
They had time to evacuate the area, even though the bomb exploded five minutes early.. One of the two bestsellers in the store (next to the UK’s favourite, Stella Artois) is the locally brewed, St Omer, a light lager I try it. The important thing, and the reason I left London this morning and came to Calais, is that I am standing in front of the seafood counter at the Carrefour hypermarket. Don’t mention the 5.45am start, nor the fact that I took a wrong turn as soon as I emerged from the Eurotunnel and ventured on to French soil. There was a sedateness about the first set until it reached the tie-break stage, when you could almost hear the gears whizzing as Hewitt revved up. Hewitt defeated the tall Sjeng Schalken, ranked 34th in the world, in relative comfort 7-6 6-3, but Henman struggled to subdue Raemon Sluiter 6-7 6-4 6-2. “On a whole different scale David seems to have dealt with it in a brilliant fashion and is a good example for a lot of people.
As he heads towards parenthood in September, Henman admits the prospect of still being Britain’s lone home-grown player of true quality is a concern. So does my reputation on grass, and you need to take all the help you can because the level of competition is so high. That has certainly won me tough matches, got me through in tight fifth sets, and it puts pressure on my opponents. I have been trying to do the basics well, and when you do that on grass that’s when you can begin to play the right sort of tennis, because you get so few chances Look at someone like Pat Rafter or Stefan Edberg. When you have won seven times you are still the player to beat. Although I played some good tennis I didn’t think I was anything special.” And now? “I think one day I’ll win Wimbledon.