Black Ink Monday

Did you see it? Probably not.

Editorial cartoonists all over the country made their stand yesterday against their opressors -- their own employers. At least, those of them who still have employers.

Black Ink Monday's spark was a cut of local editorial cartoonists at various Tribune Co. properties -- most notably the L.A. Times.

Cartoonists all over the country captured their sentiments as only editorial cartoonists can. How many were actually printed in newspapers, I cannot say. But 102 were placed on the editorial cartoonists association Web site.

Black Ink Monday

I looked at all 102.

Many took direct hits at the Trib Co., but others painted in broader strokes at the obscene profit expectations by Wall Street owners on newspaper conglomerates.

They called it a nonviolent protest, but many of the cartoons are hard hitting.

I've never been so proud to call newspaper cartoonists my brethren.

Now what can reporters and editors do to stand up in the face of the disassembling of all that is good and right in newspapers and the news business?

The pen is mightier than the sword. Are Wall Street's balance sheets the mightiest of them all?