Mike du jour Lester's blog for the right of politics

Editor & Publisher & Mike

Mike Lester — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:31:55 +0000

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Syndicates: Changes Abound at The Washington Post

posted: 5/17/2012

Mike Lester, Washington Post News Media Services

by: Rob Tornoe

Anyone currently plugging away inside the veiled walls of a newsroom knows this is a challenging time for the media business. Margins are slimmer, budgets are smaller, and everyone is expected to do more with less. No one understands this better than syndicates, where new opportunities and openings for sales continue to be difficult to unearth.

The Washington Post took a major step forward to combat these trends by creating The Washington Post News Media Services (WPNMS), which combines The Washington Post Writers Group and The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News. The merger creates a powerhouse that serves more than 1,200 publications with nearly 4,500 pieces of business on a contract basis.

“By combining The Washington Post Writers Group and the Post’s news service with Bloomberg News, we have created a formidable lineup of award-wining columnists and content for publications around the world, both in print and online,” said Katharine Weymouth, publisher of The Washington Post.

The merger also acts to create efficiency in the syndication business. Not only does it allow The Washington Post to save money by closing an entire office (and unfortunately, shedding a few staffers), it combines all the Post’s products into one big basket that gives sales reps a broader array of options when they visit prospective clients.

A recent success for WPNMS has been the interest among clients in the revamped Newsweek. Under the direction of Tina Brown, the magazine has introduced far more celebrity-driven news, which has been popular with customers both domestically and internationally.

“People want to see what Tina has been producing,” said Alan Shearer, chief executive officer and editorial director at WPNMS. “It’s been great.”

In addition to merging the two sides, the new syndication service has added content produced by online newsmagazines Slate and The Root. Slate’s content features a strong editorial voice and witty take on current events, while The Root’s content focuses on the African-American community. Both websites are owned by The Washington Post.

“The Root content is going to be really invaluable, since it features a perspective that’s absent in many newspapers,” Shearer said. “We think adding these offerings is a twin benefit, both strengthening our wire and also strengthening publications that we own.”

New cartoonist in the mix
In addition to the merger, WPNMS has strengthened its content by adding a cartoonist — conservative rabble-rouser Mike Lester. Formerly the staff cartoonist at The Rome News-Tribune in Georgia (once one of the smallest newspapers to have a full-time cartoonist on staff), Lester now draws three cartoons a week for WPNMS from his unique perspective.

Lester, who was previously represented by Cagle Cartoons, said he decided to switch in part to participate financially in the success or failure of his work (Cagle Cartoons provides a package of cartoons to newspaper clients, while WPNMS represents cartoonists individually). But the largest reason for the move was the development of his comic strip, “Mike Du Jour,” which the syndicate hopes to put in front of editors by summer.

“‘Mike Du Jour’ has been in my studio for years,” Lester said. “To be honest, I never dreamt of having a comic strip, so it’s never been a goal long-term or otherwise. It’s only taken over my life in the last couple of years.”

Amy Lago, comics editor at WPNMS, is very excited about working on “Mike Du Jour” with Lester and has spoken with him about the strip off and on for years.

“To me, this feature is different. It looks different, and its voice is different,” Lago said. “It’s also laugh-out-loud funny, which rarely happens, and accessible to readers of all ages.”

Lester’s cartoons add some conservative chops to a lineup that also features Lisa Benson, a popular cartoonist of right-leaning cartoons that are in demand by many editors who view political cartoonists as too liberal. Lago knows the current market, and understands any new political cartoonist is a tough sell, but thinks Lester will do well.

“He’s got a voice that needs to be heard, and people react strongly to his work,” Lago said. “That’s what generates a conversation among readers, and editors understand the value in that.”

Rob Tornoe is a cartoonist and columnist for Editor & Publisher and can be reached at robtornoe@gmail.com.

The Wedding Singer

Mike Lester — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:38:31 +0000

Did you know that you can win a lunch with what Newsweek calls, our “First Gay President” for the cost of a raffle ticket? But that’s not the point. The point is that somebody -probably the same Genius who came up with “WIN THE FUTURE” or “WTF” is the same guy who decided to price the raffle tickets at…$3.00. As in “queer as a three dollar bill.”

I didn’t write that old saw I’m just pointing out it exists just like “FORWARD” exists as historically leftist, communist phraseology. And besides, MSNBC began using it months ago. Who’s in charge of message over at the White House? How do you think our President looks on the cover of Newsweek in European newsstands? ”This guy’s protecting us.” is a sentence more often ended in a question mark, would be my guess.

The man can sing. He’s just singing to the choir.

New website is LIVE!!!

Mike Lester — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:45:59 +0000

And this new software promises to auto correct spelling!!! Enjoy!

Trumped, I was

Mike Lester — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:26:57 +0000

True story: Cartoon was killed because “MISS IT” was ‘post-op’ (had a cutadickoffame procedure) and therefore would have no need to stand at urinal.

A little too much info from the editors if you ask me but I parried w/ “if it has a Y chromosome it’s a DUDE.” Nothing else matters.

As a bonus, if you’re one of the other contestants you know there’s a WAR ON WOMEN.

Find the racist

Mike Lester — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:12:00 +0000

I read this yesterday: “Hype due to race“. Really??? I don’t expect professional athletes or entertainers to spout cultural profundities and by recent standards this doesn’t even register if you listen to the inanities some of our politicians vomit forth. But Twitter ain’t made for the impetuously stupid pundits among us. Me included. But Mr. Mayweather’s not alone.

Remember Larry Bird? When LB was becoming “Larry the Legend” and for damn good reasons? Isiah Thomas, a brilliant player in his day (just ask him) said the exact same thing about Larry Bird that Floyd Mayweather said about Jeremy Lin. That plenty of other black NBA players were as good if not better than LB and that he was only getting attention because he was a white player in a black sport.

I know how he feels.

Bonus useless sports trivia: Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, playing on different teams in an NBA finals game actually kissed each other before tipoff. A record Larry Bird cannot claim.

Walking on water

Mike Lester — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:47:00 +0000

To my recollection there have only been three people who have successfully walked on water. Jesus Christ, Barack Obama and Chance the Gardner.

While I’ve already done a cartoon comparing Barack Obama to Peter Sellers character, Chance the Gardner in “Being There, (from imdb.com: ”His simple TV-informed utterances are mistaken for profundity.”) I’ve never put him in a panel w/ the Big Guy. Frankly, I’ve not found the need to draw Jesus too often. But it’s not too often we have a President who compels me to.

The Archbishop of Washington D.C. was predictably attacked on Morning Joe today w/ little to no avail. He unequivocally stated he takes not one penny of gov. money yet this administration is telling Catholics how to practice their Constitutional freedom of being Catholic. Then he asked how they would feel if the administration called up one day and told MSNBC what they were going to talk about on Tuesday’s and Fridays.

Then Mika giggled. (Cut to commercial)

Here’s how I see it: if tomorrow BHO announced that he wanted to hire Christo to drape the Washington Monument in a pink latex sheath to promote condom use, within 48 hrs. (actually I’ll take the under) most if not all of the mainstream media would be telling us what a brilliantly visionary symbol this was for Dicks everywhere.

“We’re back and now over to Mika who will amaze us with her ability to read.”

Halftime in America: China 60 buzillion-U.S. 0

Mike Lester — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Super Bowl: check. Mage: check. NY football Giants champs: check. Won SB Party dumb luck $150 pot: check. $3 million/30 second spot commercials: check.

Wait, one of them was a commercial? Gran Torino Clint walking thru Detroit (filmed in NewOrleans and LA) giving the now famous “HALFTIME IN AMERICA” speech was a commercial for Chrysler? GM? Did you know this?

CBS News notes that Chrysler was bailed out with $12.5 billion from the U.S. government in 2008, and following bankruptcy restructuring is majority owned by Fiat SpA. In 2011, Chrysler earned $183 million, compared with a loss of $652 million in 2010.

Rather than try to compete, I direct you to an incredibly clever take on the topic by my friend the good Doctor Jarlsberg. Enjoy:

http://hopenchangecartoons.blogspot.com/2012/02/halfwits-in-america.html

Babies, Breasts and Backs

Mike Lester — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Dicks like me don’t get in to womens’ plumbing for obvious reasons but last week a charity, Susan G. Koman – who is in the breast cancer cure/screening business and somehow affiliated w/ the country’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood (not my words – the WSJournal) found itself in a bitch slap-fest. (my words).

The dust is slowly settling but I still don’t know what breasts and dead babies have to do w/ one another. Live ones, I get. And, for the record, not only am I o.k. w/ public breast feeding I prefer watching it to watching NASCAR.

Enter the Chiropractor. See this link and be prepared to catch your dropping jaw.

So this guy who fought for his country on the basis of his (not unheard of opinion) that the POTUS might not be legit, is denied a medical license to practice “the healing arts”. WTF his opinion on BHO’s birthplace has to do w/ adjusting Kansas City spines is neck crackingly confounding. Did they deny Donald Trump any construction, labor, gambling, etc., licenses when he went “birther”? Coming soon: ”You must be this devoted to President Obama to ride this ride”.

I’m old enough to remember. Nor did I live in California when it meant certain death just to be accused of being “Red”. But, God help us, we’re all living thru this cartoon.

Mitt-ism

Mike Lester — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:34:00 +0000

The left loves me when I go after the right. I know, Mitt ain’t exactly Mr. Right -or as Lawrence Odoofus called him Mr. “Whiter than white” (damn that’s some good stuff). But Mitt’s not my first choice for a lot of reasons and while he was taken out of context, misspoke and basically loaded the firing squad rifles it’s his particular stance on the issues that bother me.

I’m going to support Santorum until I can’t -which could be any day but…make no mistake, on voting day and all I see is STILTON JARLSBERG’s name on the ballot opposite BARACK H. OBAMA, I’m voting for the cheese…man.

Carrot sticks

Mike Lester — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Busy day. Got to make donuts.