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The 2017 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Editorial Cartooning

Finalist: Star Tribune, by Steve Sack

For work that took on the biggest issues of the year through a distinctive style, close attention to detail and a sophisticated color palette.

Nominated Work

"Brexit," 6/26/16

"Supreme Court Vacancy," 2/16/16

"N. Carolina Bathroom Bill," 4/1/16

"Standing Rock Standoff," 11/3/16

"Gun Lobby," 6/23/16

"Global Warming Effects," 4/14/16

"European Burkini Ban," 9/4/16

"Syrian Carnage," 2/19/16

"North Korean Nukes," 9/22/16

"Trump's Puzzling Appeal," 6/19/16

"Hillary's Handicap," 7/26/16

"Russian Hack Attack," 9/16/16

"Trump/Putin Bromance," 9/11/16

"Our Unbearable Election," 10/30/16

"Trump Victory!!!," 11/8/16

"Ethics Burden," 11/25/16

"Tweeter-in-Chief," 12/1/16

"GOP Agenda," 11/20/16

"Relocated Swamp," 11/19/16

"Troubled Transition," 11/11/16

Biography

Steve Sack has been the editorial cartoonist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune since 1981. Previously he spent three years as staff cartoonist for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

The St. Paul native has won a wide assortment of national honors for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 (Finalist in 2004 and 2015). The Pulitzer Board said Sack stood apart because of his "vivid, distinctive cartoons that used creative metaphors for high-impact results." His approach seeks to emphasize visual creativity combined with humor, powerful commentary, and a clear personal perspective to maximize the most effective elements of this unique art form.

Sack’s career began at the University of Minnesota’s Daily newspaper, where he wandered in looking for a part-time gig illustrating feature stories. When the paper's staff cartoonist took a leave of absence, Sack hopped into the cartoonists’ chair and was instantly hooked by the Glamorous Cartoonist Lifestyle.

Over the years Sack’s style has changed dramatically. Originally a pen-and-ink guy, he has at various times experimented with brush, charcoal, technical pen, markers, colored pencil, watercolor, Wacom tablet digital, and (currently) the iPad. Next he’s considering scrimshaw or Q-tips dipped in tattoo ink. Or not. Always searching, always keeping it fresh.

Sack lives in Bloomington, Minnesota. In his spare time he enjoys oil painting, sculpting and playing with his grandchildren (and has Legos embedded in his feet to prove it).

Winners

Prize Winner in Editorial Cartooning in 2017:

Jim Morin

For editorial cartoons that delivered sharp perspectives through flawless artistry, biting prose and crisp wit. Editorial Cartooning

Finalists

Nominated as finalists in Editorial Cartooning in 2017:

Jen Sorensen, freelance cartoonist

For a thoughtful and powerful selection of work appearing in a variety of U.S. publications and often challenging the viewer to look beyond the obvious.

The Jury

Jennifer Hemmingsen(Chair)

Opinion Editor

Sandra Sanchez

Opinion Editor

Kevin Siers*

Editorial Cartoonist

Jim Strauss

Publisher and Editor

Adam Zyglis*

Editorial Cartoonist

Winners in Editorial Cartooning

2016

Jack Ohman

For cartoons that convey wry, rueful perspectives through sophisticated style that combines bold line work with subtle colors and textures.
2015

Adam Zyglis

Who used strong images to connect with readers while conveying layers of meaning in a few words.
2014

Kevin Siers

For his thought provoking cartoons drawn with a sharp wit and bold artistic style.
2013

Steve Sack

For his diverse collection of cartoons, using an original style and clever ideas to drive home his unmistakable point of view.
See All Editorial Cartooning

2017 Prize Winners

Feature Writing

C. J. Chivers

For showing, through an artful accumulation of fact and detail, that a Marine’s postwar descent into violence reflected neither the actions of a simple criminal nor a stereotypical case of PTSD.
Commentary

Peggy Noonan

For rising to the moment with beautifully rendered columns that connected readers to the shared virtues of Americans during one of the nation’s most divisive political campaigns.
Criticism

Hilton Als

For bold and original reviews that strove to put stage dramas within a real-world cultural context, particularly the shifting landscape of gender, sexuality and race.
Editorial Writing

Art Cullen

For editorials fueled by tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa.
See All 2017 Winners