Annual Convention

Annual Convention September 11-14, 2025

The AAEC will be joining the line-up at this year’s Small Press Expo as part of our annual convention in September 2025. Registration is now open.

Registration page

SPX website



 

A letter from the President

If you’re reading this now, congratulations, you have most likely survived “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.” For that matter, you may in fact be reading this while attending the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists’ 54th Annual Convention in Portland, Ore., presumably on your own dime. Be sure to say hello to Jeff Danziger, the reclusive genius gracing us with his presence. Offer to buy him a drink and ask him why he rarely ventures beyond 9th Ave., a fact that remains a mystery to your AAEC president, whom you may also offer to buy a drink, one that he could use right now, desperately.

Yes, it’s been another challenging year, newspapers are still struggling, staff jobs are still at risk and new media has yet to create any jobs that offer more than pennies on the dollar. But there is some good news that should give reason for cartoonists to be hopeful. First of all, congratulations to animation “guru” Mark Fiore on getting the Pulitzer board to see the light, and then, promptly getting the Apple board to do the same, as he quietly builds a case for why their neat little gizmos should include more content provided by editorial cartoonists.

In fact, we are all quietly building a case why editorial cartooning deserves more respect, utilizing specialized cartoon bloggers to help get our message out. So that the only time we make the news doesn’t have to be when a jihadist is threatening to kill us. There are intriguing new Internet startups with different pay models that could provide new opportunities for cartoonists. We’ve opened greater lines of communication with our various partners such as Pelican Publishing and Cartoonist Rights Network, with whom we share a common interest in the success and future of editorial cartooning.

And it seems to be working, the Editorial Cartoonists Initiative is now up and running and drawing the attention of our friends at The Herblock Foundation along with other journalist-friendly foundations. Hell, even MSM stalwart Meet The Press is finally giving us the full attention and credit that we cartoonists deserve. 
So things are looking up.

Rex Babin
AAEC President

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OUR MISSION

The mission of the AAEC is to champion and defend editorial cartooning and free speech as essential to liberty in the United States and throughout the world.

The AAEC aims to be an international leader in support of the human, civil, and artistic rights of editorial cartoonists around the world, and to stand with other international groups in support of the profession.


The Daily Cartoonist

Adam Zyglis Points to Boot Strap Hypocrisy, MAGA Clutches Pearls
Adam Zyglis Points to Boot Strap Hypocrisy, MAGA Clutches Pearls

A recent cartoon by Adam Zyglis involving natural disasters and the MAGA philosophy has right wing voices objecting to the “rules for thee, not for...


LOCHER FELLOWSHIP

The AAEC John Locher Memorial Fellowship is awarded each year to one early-career cartoonist whose work demonstrates clear opinions and strong artistry on political and social topics. Deadline to be considered is the end of March.

The Locher Fellow will receive a one-year Regular membership in the AAEC, be a guest of the CXC Festival — held every fall in Columbus, Ohio —  and have the opportunity to meet with editorial cartoonists during the year of the Fellowship for portfolio reviews and career advice.


CARTOONS FOR THE CLASSROOM

Cartoons in Education

Every two weeks throughout the year, The Learning Forum and the AAEC offers CARTOONS FOR THE CLASSROOM, a free lesson resource for teachers discussing current events.  Visit NIEonline.com for more lesson plans.