Instead of toeing line, he redrew it: Former Times Union editorial cartoonist Hy Rosen recalls fight for creative freedom on job.

Byline: David Filkins

Aug. 30--COLONIE -- When Hy Rosen came to the Times Union as an editorial cartoonist in 1945, he was, like most cartoonists of his day, full of ideas he wasn't allowed to share.

Back then, cartoons originated with whoever owned the newspaper. In Rosen's case, it was Hearst Corp., which publishes the Times Union and a number of other papers throughout the country.

Rosen, an Albany native and Loudonville resident, would receive instructions giving the publisher's stance on the hot-button issue of the day, and he would craft a cartoon based on what the guys in suits wanted.

To Rosen's eye, the result was dry cartoons, lacking creativity and individuality.

"Freedom is the lifeblood, especially for a cartoonist," Rosen said. "The work is more interesting and comes out better. Otherwise, it's hackneyed. An idea is a metaphor. How do you draw someone else's idea? Being told what to draw is suicide for a cartoonist."

Rosen, like many other editorial cartoonists, lobbied for change. He was one of the original members of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, which formed in 1957, and helped cartoonists gain creative control of their cartoons.

Last month, the association celebrated its 50th anniversary in Washington, D.C. Rosen, 84, made the trip. He is one of only three living original members. He estimates he has drawn more than 10,000 editorial cartoons.

The association, which at one time had more than 300 members, now has about 200, he said, and those numbers are dwindling because "newspapers are drying up."

The future for newspaper cartoonists is bleak, because television, the Internet, and other forms of new media are making the position obsolete, he said.

Editorial cartoons' stature in print has also shrunk, Rosen said. Many papers had them on the front page as well as in the sports section.

"Now you never see that," said Rosen, who won a number of state and national awards and retired from full-time work at the Times Union in 1989.

Meanwhile, the quality of cartoons is hanging in there. "It's like anything else," he said. "Some stuff is great. Other stuff is lousy."

David Filkins can be reached at 454-5456 or by e-mail at dfilkins@timesunion.com.

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