Clay Bennett
Encyclopedia
Clay Bennett is an American editorial cartoon
ist. Currently drawing for the Chattanooga Times Free Press
, Bennett is the winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize
for Editorial Cartooning.
Graduating from the University of North Alabama
in 1980, Bennett briefly served as a staff artist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
and the Fayetteville (NC) Times before spending thirteen years as the editorial cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times
.
Bennett went on to serve as the editorial cartoonist for The Christian Science Monitor
from 1997 to 2007. During that decade he was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize six times, receiving The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
in 2002. Bennett has earned almost every honor his profession has to offer including the Sigma Delta Chi Award
, the National Journalism Award
, the National Cartoonist Society Award for Editorial Cartoons, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
, the John Fischetti Award
, the National Headliner Award and the Thomas Nast Award from the Overseas Press Club
.
Past President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
, Bennett was hired by the Chattanooga Times Free Press
in 2007.
He lives in Tennessee with his wife, artist Cindy Procious, and family. His work is syndicated internationally by The Washington Post Writers Group
.
Editorial cartoon
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a commentary that usually relates to current events or personalities....
ist. Currently drawing for the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Chattanooga Times Free Press
The Chattanooga Times Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is distributed in the metro Chattanooga region of Tennessee and Northwest Georgia...
, Bennett is the winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize
2002 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism:* Public Service:**The New York Times, for A Nation Challenged, a special section published regularly after the September 11th terrorist attacks on America, which coherently and comprehensively covered the tragic events, profiled the victims, and tracked the developing story, locally...
for Editorial Cartooning.
Graduating from the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
in 1980, Bennett briefly served as a staff artist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
and the Fayetteville (NC) Times before spending thirteen years as the editorial cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
.
Bennett went on to serve as the editorial cartoonist for The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
from 1997 to 2007. During that decade he was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize six times, receiving The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning has been awarded since 1922 for a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect...
in 2002. Bennett has earned almost every honor his profession has to offer including the Sigma Delta Chi Award
Sigma Delta Chi Award
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are presented annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism.- History :The Awards, according to the SPJ, did not begin in 1932 when the society chose six individuals for their contributions to journalism. In 1939 the awards program began...
, the National Journalism Award
National Journalism Awards
The National Journalism Awards are awards of US$10,000 to $25,000 in American journalism given by the Scripps Howard Foundation that recognize the best work in journalism in 17 categories, including: human interest writing; environmental and public service reporting; investigative reporting;...
, the National Cartoonist Society Award for Editorial Cartoons, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism is journalisms award named after Robert F. Kennedy and awarded by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. The annual awards are issued in several categories and were established in December 1968 by a group of reporters who...
, the John Fischetti Award
John Fischetti
John R. Fischetti was an editorial cartoonist for the New York Herald-Tribune and the Chicago Daily News. He received a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1969 and numerous awards from the National Cartoonists Society.- Biography :Born in Brooklyn, New York, where his Italian father was a...
, the National Headliner Award and the Thomas Nast Award from the Overseas Press Club
Overseas Press Club
The Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
.
Past President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is a professional association concerned with promoting the interests of staff, freelance and student editorial cartoonists in the United States, Canada and Mexico...
, Bennett was hired by the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Chattanooga Times Free Press
The Chattanooga Times Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is distributed in the metro Chattanooga region of Tennessee and Northwest Georgia...
in 2007.
He lives in Tennessee with his wife, artist Cindy Procious, and family. His work is syndicated internationally by The Washington Post Writers Group
The Washington Post Writers Group
The Washington Post Writers Group is a press syndication service composed of opinion journalists, editorial cartoonists, comic strips and columnists. The service is operated by the Washington Post.-Writers:...
.
Awards
- 2010 Green Eyeshade Award for Editorial Cartoons, Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
- 2009 Green Eyeshade Award for Editorial Cartoons, Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
- 2008 Ink Bottle Award, Association of American Editorial CartoonistsAssociation of American Editorial CartoonistsThe Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is a professional association concerned with promoting the interests of staff, freelance and student editorial cartoonists in the United States, Canada and Mexico...
- 2007 Thomas Nast Award, Overseas Press ClubOverseas Press ClubThe Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
of America - 2007 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism AwardRobert F. Kennedy Journalism AwardThe Robert F. Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism is journalisms award named after Robert F. Kennedy and awarded by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. The annual awards are issued in several categories and were established in December 1968 by a group of reporters who...
for Cartoons - 2005 Thomas Nast Award, Overseas Press ClubOverseas Press ClubThe Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
of America - 2005 John Fischetti Award for Editorial Cartooning
- 2004 National Population Cartoon Contest, Grand Prize
- 2004 National Headliner Award for Editorial Cartoons
- 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial CartooningPulitzer Prize for Editorial CartooningThe Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning has been awarded since 1922 for a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect...
- 2002 Best Editorial Cartoons, National Cartoonists SocietyNational Cartoonists SocietyThe National Cartoonists Society is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the troops...
- 2002 National Journalism Award, Scripps Howard FoundationScripps Howard FoundationThe Scripps Howard Foundation is the corporate foundation of the E. W. Scripps Company, an American media conglomerate which owns newspapers, television stations, cable television networks, and other media outlets...
- 2001 Sigma Delta Chi AwardSigma Delta Chi AwardThe Sigma Delta Chi Awards are presented annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism.- History :The Awards, according to the SPJ, did not begin in 1932 when the society chose six individuals for their contributions to journalism. In 1939 the awards program began...
, Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of... - 2001 John Fischetti Award for Editorial Cartooning
- 2001 Editorial Cartoonist of the Year, Editor & PublisherEditor & PublisherEditor & Publisher is a monthly magazine covering the North American newspaper industry. It is based in New York City. E&P calls itself "America's Oldest Journal Covering the Newspaper Industry" and describes itself on its website as "the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North...
magazine - 2000 National Headliner Award for Editorial Cartoons
- 1999 National Headliner Award for Editorial Cartoons
- 1994 Green Eyeshade Award for Editorial Cartoons, Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
- 1990 Jane Roe Media Award, Florida Abortion Rights Action League
- 1986 H. L. Mencken Award for Best Cartoon, Free Press Association
- 1984 Green Eyeshade Award for Editorial Cartoons, Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
- 1979 Society for Collegiate Journalists Award for Editorial Cartoons