Political caricaturist Mark Fiore was awarded the first Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning to ever be awarded to a web-only cartoonist, so obviously he’s got some artistic and editorial merit… but not in Apple’s eyes.
Word from the Nieman Journalism Lab reports that Fiore submitted his iPhone app, NewsToons, back in December, but was rejected for “ridiculing public figures.”
This isn’t the first time Apple has rejected a well-known and respected caricaturist from submitting his app because he pokes fun at political figures and celebrities. Back in November, Apple rejected Mad Magazine contributor Tom Richmond’s Bobble Reps app for the same reason.
Richmond’s app was later approved, and my guess is that now that news has hit of Fiore’s rejection, NewsToons will be on the App Store soon as well.
Still, Apple’s position on caricatures is worrisome. As I wrote when Richmond’s app was rejected: “[Political caricaturing] is a fine and respected American tradition, exaggerating the looks and facial characteristics of politicians. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal run caricatures all the time in the form of political cartoons. Even the most slavish pundits don’t object anymore to their politicians of choice being caricaturized. More over, caricatures are protected by US law as free speech.”
Apple made a strong appeal to some of the most well-known publishers of political cartoons, such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal when they announced the iPad. At best, Apple’s App Store position on apps by the likes of Fiore and Richmond is a hypocritical double standard.
As Brian Barrett over at Gizmodo excellently puts the matter, “[If Apple is]sincere about the iPad being the future of media, they’re going to need to accept that satirical—even controversial—voices are an essential part of the information landscape. Otherwise, the future might a pretty bleak place.” I couldn’t agree more.
