Mike Lester, editorial cartoonist for the Rome News-Tribune, has won the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for excellence in journalism.
Regarding his entry, the judges note:
“We felt Mike Lester’s editorial cartoons for the Rome News-Tribune showed a unique, breezy and consistent style. Each panel was strong and wry while commenting on important social issues. There is humor but it is not disrespectful. The cartoons have broad appeal. We applaud Rome News-Tribune, a small newspaper, for having a fulltime editorial cartoonist on staff.”
The Rome News-Tribune has posted video of Mike talking about this award and his cartooning on their web site.
Mike is also nominated for two division awards (editorial cartooning and book illustration) for the National Cartooning Society. We’ll know if he’ll take home any of those prizes in May.
Well deserved.