A Career Cut Short: Tony Doris and the Fallout Over a Cartoon
Tony Doris, a veteran journalist with a long and storied career at The Palm Beach Post, never imagined that his tenure at the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper would end over a cartoon. For over two decades, Doris had been a fixture in the world of local government reporting, digging into city affairs in West Palm Beach, Florida, and most recently serving as the editorial page editor. His work often put him at the center of controversy, but he never shied away from it. However, it was not a investigative exposé or a hard-hitting editorial that ultimately led to his departure, but rather a decision to publish a cartoon that sparked outrage in the community and beyond.
The Cartoon That Ignited Controversy
The cartoon in question, drawn by syndicated cartoonist Jeff Danziger, depicted two Israeli soldiers rescuing a hostage from Hamas. The image was accompanied by a caption that read, “Some Israeli hostages are home after over a year of merciless war,” with one of the soldiers warning, “Watch your step,” as the trio navigated through a mass of bodies labeled “over 40,000 Palestinians killed.” Doris, who describes himself as a Jewish supporter of Israel, selected the cartoon to run in a print issue of The Palm Beach Post in late January. While he anticipated some backlash, he was unprepared for the intensity of the reaction that followed.
Backlash and Consequences
The publication of the cartoon set off a firestorm in Palm Beach, particularly within the local Jewish community. The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County responded by purchasing a full-page ad in the following Sunday’s newspaper, condemning the cartoon as antisemitic. The backlash quickly reached the highest levels of Gannett, the parent company of The Palm Beach Post. Senior editors at Gannett suspended Doris within days and held a meeting with representatives from the Jewish Federation, including its president and CEO, Michael Hoffman. During the meeting, Gannett editors apologized for the cartoon and discussed ways to promote healthier dialogue about issues important to the local Jewish community.
Doris’s Termination and the Aftermath
Doris was fired the week after the meeting, with a senior editor at Gannett citing a violation of company policies. However, Doris claims he was not told which specific policies he had violated and was not offered any severance. In a statement, Gannett said that the cartoon “did not meet our standards” and that it “would not have been published if the proper protocols were followed.” The company declined to elaborate on what those protocols were or to comment further on Doris’s termination, citing confidentiality. A spokesperson for The Palm Beach Post expressed regret over the incident and assured that steps had been taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Perspectives on the Cartoon and Its Implications
At the heart of the controversy is the question of whether the cartoon was antisemitic or simply antiwar. Doris and Danziger, the cartoonist, both insists that the image was the latter. Danziger, a Vietnam veteran whose father is Jewish, said the cartoon was meant to critique the prolongation of the war and the suffering it has caused. “I’m a Vietnam veteran, and I think that I know what I’m talking about—at least from the standpoint of war being bad,” he said. Doris echoed this sentiment, stating that the job of a newspaper opinion page is to raise important issues for their communities. “I remain convinced that, as corny as it sounds, democracy needs journalists who care about the mission and not just about page views,” he said.
Broader Implications for Journalism and Free Speech
The fallout over the cartoon raises important questions about the role of journalism in sparking difficult conversations and the challenges of navigating politically charged topics. Doris’s termination has sparked debates about the role of corporate media in handling controversies, with some arguing that Gannett’s decision reflects a broader trend of media outlets prioritizing avoidance of backlash over fostering open dialogue. For Doris, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges journalists face in balancing their mission to inform and challenge the public with the pressures of operating in an increasingly polarized and sensitive media landscape. As he reflects on his career and the incident that ended it, Doris remains steadfast in his belief that the role of journalism is to provoke thought and challenge the status quo, even in the face of controversy.
