Comments on: Des Moines Register axes Brian Duffy

By: Mike Peterson

Mike Peterson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:06:04 +0000

It’s encouraging that the local station did a story on this, and good that Brian didn’t get into name-calling, but stood his ground and expressed his anger in a grown-up but unmistakable voice. For the TV station, it’s a chance to thumb their nose at the competition, of course, but it also keeps Gannett from simply doing the deed and slinking away.

As for not letting him fill a box with his stuff, that’s petty and unprofessional. I hope he submits a good list of everything that was on and around his desk — all the awards, the odd little things people sent that he kept, the personal notes from fans, the $10,000 diamond stickpin that he’ll sue them for if they don’t produce it … there are probably a good number of former Gannett employees who remember seeing it there …

By: J.G. Moore

J.G. Moore — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:07:18 +0000

Cold.

By: J.G. Moore

J.G. Moore — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:06:43 +0000

Poor guy didn’t even get a box to clean his damn desk. Damn.

By: J.G. Moore

J.G. Moore — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:03:06 +0000

No, it’s the death of editorial cartooning. As a doornail.

By: Bill Hinds

Bill Hinds — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:32:27 +0000

That was an interesting video. Expecting loyalty for giving loyalty looks like a “sucker” notion these days.
I’m glad Brian’s work is still appearing in 400 newspapers.
Maybe we’ll see the editorial cartoonist position evolve into a totally syndicated business model. Comic strips did start out as features for just one paper or one chain, and evolved to be almost total syndicated.
Maybe it’s not the death of editorial cartoons, just the death of local issues in cartoons.

By: Elisabeth Stephens

Elisabeth Stephens — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:06:37 +0000

More info from Duffy himself on what happened. Truly a sad situation.

http://www.kcci.com/video/18221551/index.html

By: JP Trostle

JP Trostle — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:43:01 +0000

And no, I’m not bitter at all about Dave getting the boot. |P

By: JP Trostle

JP Trostle — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:38:57 +0000

Dear Alan,

Sorry, wasn’t questioning your due diligence and willingness to followup, but the mere fact that if Dave Astor was still at E&P they wouldn’t have simply cut and paste a bunch of unedited emails and declared it a news story.

By: John Cortina

John Cortina — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:23:31 +0000

As an art teacher and a former Iowan I have a lot of respect and admiration for Duffy’s work. It’s a shame it won’t be there anymore.
I still remember an assignment from seventh grade where we had to give a “report” on a current event. I got permission to do mine as an editorial cartoon, and I studied Duffy’s work to learn how to do it best. It was the frist work I ever got published. Thanks Duffy!

By: J.G. Moore

J.G. Moore — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:38:18 +0000

as a doornail…