Socialist website takes up NZ cartoonist sacking brickbat

The WSWS.org (World Socialist Website) has taken a position on the sacking of cartoonist Malcolm Evans in August 2003 by The New Zealand Herald. The article refers to the sacking as, "another indication of a rightward turn" by New Zealand and Australian business elites.

Of more interest to cartoonists is the coverage they give The New Zealand Herald's response to the sacking. The paper claiming it was Malcolm's response over a rejected cartoon which contributed to their decision to fire him.

Here's what the website says the paper had to say on the matter:

The newspaper’s first major statement on the affair, published in early December, came after four months’ stonewalling, purportedly because “legal advice” prevented it making any comment. The statement sought to further cover up the reasons for the sacking, claiming that Evans had written to the deputy editor “in an unacceptably abusive manner” after a cartoon was rejected on grounds that it was “not original and not funny”.

The statement asserted that Evans had “failed to acknowledge” the paper’s policy not to publish symbols which had religious significance—such as the star of David and the crescent and star of Islam—to represent secular or government bodies. On a number of occasions, Ellis alleged, Evans had resubmitted contributions that had already been rejected.

Evans rejected the claims as “nonsense”. He had written letters to Ellis and one to a deputy editor that was “curt but courteous”, but none were abusive. “All of my letters were sober and thoughtful and addressed the issues as I saw them. I have never written an abusive letter to anybody,” he said.

The full article...