ABSTRACT

In 2018, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper published a story that included an editorial cartoon entitled, “A Field Guide to Liberals” that offended some readers. It caused a public reaction about the lack of social responsibility shown by the newspaper. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram editor, Steve Coffman, issued an apology, “…the cartoon didn’t meet the paper’s expectations for “high level of respect,” which said in part, “The cartoon we published on Oct. 18 did not fulfill that aspiration. I take full responsibility and apologize for the decision to publish it.” (Shinneman, 2018) The TARES test explains five steps to help one make an analysis and to come to an ethical decision. Kant’s Categorical Imperative will also be used to further analyze the ethics of publishing the cartoon. The TARES test and Kant’s Categorical Imperative will conclude the case study by answering the following three questions:

Micro: What is the purpose of publishing an editorial section in a newspaper?

Midrange: What are some of the challenges including an editorial cartoon in a newspaper?

Macro: Should editorial cartoonists accept responsibility for possible reactions to their cartoons?