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Title: Cartoonist says his work got him axed
Source:
The DesMoines Register
URL Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st ... is-work-got-him-axed/83841760/
Published: May 3, 2016
Author: Donnelle Eller
Post Date: 2016-05-03 10:42:07 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 5872
Comments: 33
A northern Iowa freelance cartoonist says he was fired for drawing an editorial cartoon that bemoaned Iowa farmers' dwindling profits while CEOs at large agricultural corporations earn millions of dollars. Rick Friday of Lorimor said on his Facebook page that Farm News, a weekly publication of The Fort Dodge Messenger, dropped him as the publication's editorial cartoonist after a company affiliated with one of three large corporations he portrayed in his cartoon complained, pulling its advertising. In last week's "It's Friday" cartoon, Friday said the CEOs of Deere & Co., Monsanto Co. and DuPont Pioneer made more money than 2,129 Iowa farmers last year. A large affiliated company "was insulted and canceled their advertisement with the paper, thus, resulting in the reprimand of my editor and cancellation of 'It's Friday' cartoons," wrote Friday, who worked 21 years for Farm News, publishing 1,090 cartoons. Cartoonist Rick Friday says this cartoon cost him his job with Farm News after one of the corporations he criticized pulled its advertising. (Photo: Rick Friday) The CEOs at the ag giants earned about $52.9 million last year, based on Morningstar data. Monsanto and DuPont, the parent of Johnston-based Pioneer, are large seed and chemical companies, and Deere is a large farm equipment manufacturer. Profits for the three companies, all with large operations across Iowa, also have declined as farm income has been squeezed. After peaking in 2013, U.S. farm income this year is projected to fall to $183 billion, its lowest level since 2002. Publisher Larry Bushman said he couldn't say Monday why Farm News would no longer run Friday's cartoons, adding that it was an editorial decision. Farm News Editor Larry Kershner said he couldn't comment about the decision. Friday said his cartoon was based on facts. "Hopefully, my children and my grandchildren will see that this last cartoon published … will shine a light on how fragile our rights to free speech and free press really are in the country," said Friday, who also raises cattle. DuPont and Monsanto officials said the companies were unaware of the cartoon until the media brought it to their attention. A Deere spokesman wasn't immediately available Monday to comment. Monsanto's Christi Dixon said the St. Louis-based company has no interest in shutting down farm discussions. "We respect various viewpoints and want to be open to dialogue. We're interested in finding common ground," said Dixon, adding the company recently hosted a vocal critic of the company's genetically modified seeds at its headquarters. Farm News is delivered to 24,000 homes in 33 counties in northwest Iowa. The Fort Dodge Messenger is owned by Ogden Newspapers, based in West Virginia. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 29.
#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
How stupid do you have to be to insult an advertiser -- by name -- and expect them to keep spending money on your piddly-ass newspaper? Second, it wasn't funny. He should be fired for that alone. And third, he's comparing apples and oranges. Those are farm suppliers, not farmers. If farmers want to make more profit then let them start up a company like John Deere, Monsanto, or DuPont.
Obviously, you don't know what you are talking about. Real farmers do not much profit at all. In fact, most of them are struggling these days especially due to the fact that corporate "farmers" who use farmers land for public use like Monsanto, Dupont and John Deere don't do the actual labor involved in the business at all. They just don't really work at all. It really is the farmers that are getting ripped off and screwed over. That's why nobody wants to stay in the farming business anymore. There is no money. The only ones making money are the corporate farmers whereas the farmers are actually nothing more than their slaves.
That's my point. So why compare their business to the farmers'?
Because there is a big difference between corporate farming vs farmers. Corporate farmers are a joke! They know nothing about the actual labor involved in farming. All they know is the business angle from the office position. The "corporate farmers" get the city to invoke eminent domain for public use in that everything that the actual farmer does he/she no longer owns. It becomes a public good. About a month ago, I was attending some city hall meeting and was listening to this one guy at the podium speak about his role in Urban Development and that he knew nothing about farming but that he and his business associates were working on some business deal with some of the farmers in the area to help flourish business. I'll say it again, dudes like this lick their chops at every opportunity when they see the misfortune of true farmers. What they really want is the credit and the land from the farmers. Very few farmers have the great perception to see through the motives of "friendly" businessmen like this one speak.
I agree. But the cartoon was comparing corporations like Monsanto vs. farmers.
#30. To: misterwhite (#29)
Funny. I did not see the cartoon like that at all. I saw the cartoon as very realistic.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"dropped him as the publication's editorial cartoonist after a company affiliated with one of three large corporations he portrayed in his cartoon complained, pulling its advertising."
#7. To: misterwhite (#1)
#9. To: goldilucky (#7)
"... like Monsanto, Dupont and John Deere don't do the actual labor involved in the business at all"
#27. To: misterwhite (#9)
(Edited)
#29. To: goldilucky (#27)
"Because there is a big difference between corporate farming vs farmers."
Replies to Comment # 29.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 29.
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