Syracuse Post-Standard editorial cartoonist Frank Cammuso was one of the 115 employees told they will no longer have a job with the paper after January 31 when the paper drops to a three-time a week printing schedule on February 1.
Frank has been with the paper for 23 years. He was gracious enough to answer a few questions regarding this announcement.
Alan: A lot of papers lately have announced they are dropping to a 3x week schedule. At what point did you know that the Post-Standard was going to change their print schedule and when did you find out your position would be cut?
Frank: The staff of the Post-Standard was notified of the changes at the end of August. I was let go along with 114 others on Monday, Oct. 1st.
A: You served as the cartoonist for 23 years – a good long run. What will you remember most about working for the Post-Standard?
F: I enjoyed cartooning the state politicians. I’ve covered everyone from Mario Cuomo to Eliot Spitzer to Hillary Clinton. It was fun to have big personalities as targets.
A: Will you be providing cartoons for the paper as a freelancer or under some other arrangement?
F: No, I believe come January 31st my political cartooning days will be over.
A: . You’ve done a lot of cartooning outside of the newspaper. What was the mix of non-editorial cartooning work to editorial cartooning? Is it enough that you can transition over fairly easy or will you need to do a lot of ramp up?
F: Unfortunately for political cartoonists the writing has been on the wall for a while. I have been writing and drawing graphic novels for the last ten years. Right now it takes up about two thirds of my work time. I have been in the making the transition for the last few years. This was actually the kick in the pants I needed to make the jump.
A: What are your plans now?
F: Write and draw more graphic novels and creator owned projects.
Congrats Frank. As much as I love my daily paper, I know it’s just a matter of time before it takes the plunge as well. Creator owned projects is the way to go. Best of luck to your future endeavors!
look forward to seeing your new work
If you haven’t seen Frank’s “Knights of the Lunch Table” graphic novels, you’re really missing out. They’re GREAT!
Frank, I have no doubt in no time you’ll wonder what took you so long to make the leap.
Nothing but the best wishes for your new journey!
Another sad story in Advance Publications’ decision to slowly close down their newspapers. So many people left unemployed and on the street by this pathetic attempt to milk what little advertising these communities have left. Good luck with that.
Bah. Frank mentioned he was in a make or break situation when I saw him at Baltimore Comic Con, and it’s crappy that it turned out to be break. I second the Knights of the Lunch Table books – they’re big w/ a 1st-grader in the neighborhood, but I buy copies for myself (47) and also enjoy Frank’s take on King Arthur.
Frank, I know it must be a shock to the system to go through this, but I have a feeling you’ll do just fine. Best of luck with your future endeavors.