Ann Telnaes: A Reverberating Resignation
What principled quitting teaches us about courage
Whether she intended it or not, Ann Telnaes’ resignation from The Washington Post is having widespread impact and has ignited the already simmering concerns about freedom of the press and journalistic integrity.
In case you missed it, Ann Telnaes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist who worked at The Washington Post from 2008 until last week. In a simple, direct, and elegant post on her Substack newsletter, Open Windows, she explained that she resigned from The Washington Post because an editorial cartoon she created was rejected. The cartoon depicted notable billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, grovelling before Trump with bags of money.
Telnaes believes the point of view expressed in the cartoon was why it was rejected. For her, this is a “game changer… and dangerous for a free press,” and it prevents her from doing her job of holding “powerful people and institutions accountable.”1 So she resigned.
David Shipley, the Editoral Page Editor of The Washington Post, offered this explanation for why he rejected the cartoon: “The only bias was against repetition. My decision was guided by the fact that we had just published a column on the same subject as the cartoon and had another column scheduled.”2 That explanation has been largely rejected. The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists labeled the decision “political cowardice that eclipses journalistic integrity at The Washington Post.”3
Telnaes’ resignation has inspired many Substack posts and notes, and articles and discussions throughout the social media world. Her fellow cartoonists have joined together to develop their own renditions of the rejected cartoon. A recent compilation of some of the best of them can be found here.
Much more could be said about the response Telnaes has received since she resigned as well as about troubles at The Washington Post and the implications for a free press. But for The Backbone Report, of most importance is what Ann Telnaes’ resignation teaches us about courage.
What we learn about courage from Ann Telnaes
Courage involves acting on your principles. The principles of freedom of the press, speaking truth to power, and holding powerful people and institutions accountable meant more to Telnaes than keeping the prestigious position she held at The Washington Post for 17 years. She would rather resign than compromise her principles.
Courageous action done quietly is powerful. Telnaes offered a short, simple Substack post announcing her resignation. The response has been significant, both in volume and substance, and overwhelmingly positive. If you do a Google search of “Ann Telnaes resignation,” you will find more than ten pages of articles on the topic.
Courage inspires accountability. Her resignation has ignited concerns and discussions regarding freedom of the press, censorship, journalistic integrity, obeying in advance, and holding not only The Washington Post but all media accountable.
Acting courageously may have rewards. Telnaes’ principled resignation has brought far more attention to her work (I must admit I had never heard of her before) and subscribers to her Substack newsletter. In addition, her reputation as a woman of journalistic integrity and courage is enhanced and solidified.
Courage can be contagious.
Telnaes’ unwillingness to collude with the complicity of her employer in compromising journalistic standards, even though it meant leaving her job, may inspire others to take similar action and/or to fight for freedom of the press.
Courageous action amplifies cowardice.
The Washington Post has been in the news in recent months, and not in a good way. Telnaes’ resignation amplifies the internal troubles of this formerly revered paragon of journalistic integrity and highlights its recent cowardly actions.4
How to thank Ann Telnaes
Subscribe to her Substack newsletter Open Windows either as a free or paid subscriber.
Send her a note of appreciation here, thanking her for standing up for her principles and telling her you admire her courage.
Donate money to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that promotes and protects worldwide freedom of the press.
Send an email to David Shipley at The Washington Post enCouraging him to make editorial decisions that reflect journalistic integrity rather than protecting Jeff Bezos.
Conclusion
If The Washington Post had published Telnaes’ cartoon, it might have earned praise for journalistic integrity. By rejecting it, the cartoon has gone viral and inspired the cartoonist community to do renditions of it that have amplified its message. Telnaes’ resignation has reminded us that having the courage to stand up for our values may require walking away from what no longer reflects them.