ROBERT ARIAIL

As many newspapers shed their staff editorial cartoonists in fits of fiscal retrenchment, one paper, at  least, is considering a return to the rousing days of yesteryear. Rob Tornoe at Editor & Publisher reports that the 49,000-circulation Spartanburg Herald-Journal in South Carolina has offered a contract to Robert Ariail to do five cartoons a week in a relationship that could lead to a staff cartooning job.

Ariail left his previous paper, The State, in March 2009 after drawing editorial cartoons at the paper for nearly 25 years. He declined an offer to have his hours cut in half as part of a company-wide cost-cutting program by the McClatchy chain, choosing a buyout instead. He freelanced and self-syndicated his South Carolina cartoons throughout the state, and his national issues cartoons were distributed by United Feature Syndicate.

Nevertheless, Ariail feels lucky to get close to a full-time staff position again in the financially pressed industry. "Editorial cartooning must be the hardest job to be looking for in this economy," he said. "I think the Herald-Journal is showing a lot of faith in the future of newspapers and of editorial cartooning."