The Herblock Prize for editorial cartooning is an annual $15,000 after-tax cash prize, and a sterling silver Tiffany trophy."Herblock Prize & Lecture," Herblock Foundation website. Accessed Sept. 7, 2015. Designed "to encourage editorial cartooning as an essential tool for preserving the rights of the American people through freedom of speech and the right of expression," it is named for the editorial cartoonist Herblock and sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation.
The rotating three-judge panel that determines the award-winner is typically composed of the previous year's winner, another editorial cartoonist, and a scholar of editorial cartooning. The award is typically presented some time between March and May of each year, at the Library of Congress.
Each award presentation is accompanied by a guest lecturer who discusses contemporary social issues "in the spirit of Herblock." Previous Herblock Prize guest lecturers include Ben Bradlee, President Barack Obama, Sandra Day O’Connor, Tom Brokaw, Tim Russert, Ted Koppel, George Stevens, Jr., Jim Lehrer, Garry Trudeau, Gwen Ifill, and Bob Woodward.
Finalists for the award have been named since 2011; they receive a $5,000 after-tax prize.
History When Herb Block died in October 2001, he left $50 million with instructions to create a foundation to support charitable and educational programs that help promote and sustain the causes he championed during his 72 years of cartooning. The Herb Block Foundation is committed to defending the basic freedoms guaranteed all Americans, combating all forms of discrimination and prejudice, and improving the conditions of the poor and underprivileged through the creation or support of charitable and educational programs with the same goals. The Foundation is also committed to improving educational opportunities to deserving students through post-secondary education scholarships and to promoting editorial cartooning through continuing research. The Herb Block Foundation awarded its first grants and the annual Herblock Prize in editorial cartooning in 2004.Pat Bagley Wins 2009 Herblock Prize , February18, 2009.
In 2011, Ann Telnaes became the first female Herblock Prize finalist. In 2012, Matt Bors became the first alternative-weekly cartoonist to win the Herblock Prize. in 2014, Jen Sorensen became the first female Herblock Prize award-winner."Jen Sorensen, 2014 Herblock Prize Winner!" Herb Block Foundation press release (March 4, 2014).
Award recipients Year Winner Organization 2026 Jack Ohman San Francisco Chronicle 2025 Marty Two Bulls Sr 2024 Steve Brodner 2023 Ann Telnaes The Washington Post 2022 Lalo Alcaraz Andrews McMeel Syndication 2021 Rob Rogers Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (formerly) 2020 Michael de Adder CounterPoint 2019 Matt Davies Newsday2018 Ward Sutton The Boston Globe2017 Ruben Bolling Tom the Dancing Bug2016 Mark Fiore Self Syndicated2015 Kevin Kallaugher (KAL) The Baltimore Sun & The Economist2014Jen SorensenThe Austin Chronicle2013Tom TomorrowThis Modern World2012Matt Borswww.MattBors.com & CartoonMovement.com2011Tom TolesThe Washington Post2010Matt Wuerker Politico 2009Pat Bagley Salt Lake Tribune 2008John Sherffius Camera of Boulder, Colorado 2007Jim Morin"JIM MORIN RECEIVES 2007 HERBLOCK PRIZE," The Herb Block Foundation press release (February 19, 2007).Miami Herald 2006 Jeff Danziger Rutland Herald in Rutland, Vt. 2005 Tony AuthWilliam Yardley, "Tony Auth, Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist, Dies at 72," New York Times, Sept. 15, 2014. Philadelphia Inquirer 2004 Matt Davies Journal News of Westchester County, N.Y.
Award finalists Year Finalist Organization2025Peter Kuper2024Pedro Molina2023Michael RamirezLas Vegas Review-Journal2022Peter KuperThe New Yorker & The New York Times2021Darrin Bell"Candorville"2020Matt LubchanskyThe Nib2019Clay JonesSelf Syndicated2018Steve Brodner2017Marty Two Bulls, Sr.Indian Country Today Media Network2016Ken Fisher, AKA Ruben Bolling"Tom the Dancing Bug”2015Mike LuckovichThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution2014Clay BennettThe Chattanooga Times Free Press 2013 Jack Ohman The Sacramento Bee 2012 Jen Sorensen JenSorensen.com 2011 Ann Telnaes The Washington Post
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