Spiked: The Unpublished Political Cartoons of Rob Rogers

oin Rob Rogers March 1. 2019 at Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation for a book signing and gallery showing of his cartoons

After 25 years as the political cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rob Rogers was fired for drawing cartoons critical of President Trump. In Enemy of the People Rogers writes, “Trump’s open embrace of the darkest, ugliest corners of human nature has emboldened racists, neo-Nazis, criminals, thugs, despots, misogynists and liars to come out from under their rocks and display their shameful behavior publicly. That includes publishers and editors who years ago may have been too ashamed to express their hateful views on the editorial page.” From a cartoon-killing spree to a social media buzz, from an appearance on CNN to his final days at the paper, Rogers chronicles his unenviable journey with honesty, wit and humor.

“Satire is the ultimate expression of free speech,” says Rogers. “It reminds us that we live in a healthy democracy. But we are living in time like no other in our country’s history, a time when the media is under attack, a time of extreme partisanship. We need satire and editorial cartoons more now than ever.”

This collection features highlights of Rogers' political cartoons over the last three years, his coverage of past presidents, a tutorial on creating editorial cartoons and two long-form comics. The book also includes brief essays contributed by notable cartoonists and journalists championing the First Amendment and lauding the craft of editorial cartooning.