In its July 1990 issue, on the opinions page, the Snoose News published an editorial about gubernatorial candidate Arne Carlson, two letters to the editor, and, at the bottom of the page, an unsigned cartoon. The cartoon shows a weasel-like animal standing upright and spray-painting the words “FLACK MAN” on a wall. Another weasel character is shown saying, “Terry says don’t ruin the neighborhood, let me do it.” The cartoon is captioned, “Terry Lap Dog, The Sleazy Weasel.”

It is undisputed the cartoon refers to grievant Terrance J. Lappin and that this was so understood in the West Bank community. Lappin is a West Bank resident and developer who had recently submitted a proposal to renovate the Bailey Building located at Cedar and Riverside avenues. Lappin’s proposal was one of three submitted to the Cedar-Riverside Project Area Committee (PAC) for its endorsement. Eventually, the PAC’s approval went to a competing developer, the West Bank Community Development Corporation. This redevelopment project and the relative merits of the three renovation proposals was of considerable public interest and sparked much debate in the West Bank community.

Lappin claims the cartoon was unfair and defamatory and should not have been anonymously published. The Snoose News claims Lappin is a public figure in the community, that the cartoonist was only expressing a personal opinion about Lappin’s role in the community’s development plans, and that this was in keeping with the newspaper’s tradition of allowing “cantankerous and vociferous politicking and disagreements.” Lappin also claims that his letter to the editor protesting the cartoon, sent in September, was not published in either the October or November issues of the paper. The editor said the letter may be published in an upcoming issue, space permitting.

Discussion: The Snoose News considers itself as engaging in public service journalism. Within this context, it seems to us that the cartoon comes within the bounds of robust political debate that a free press may choose to report. Admittedly, the cartoon is highly irreverent toward its subject, but the Snoose News, which apparently thrives on controversy, chose to publish the cartoon, which was its right.

The cartoon does not make, nor purport to make, a factual statement. Rather, the cartoon is obviously expressing the author’s opinion, doing so through the use of epithets. Having chosen to become involved in a development project which was of intense interest to West Bank residents, Lappin should not have been surprised that his involvement invited critical comment.

The grievance must, therefore, be denied.

Having said this, the News Council is troubled by two aspects of this case. First, considering the sharp personal attack on him, Lappin should have been afforded prompt access to the newspaper’s opinions page in order to respond with his side of the controversy. This is only fair.

Secondly, we are troubled by the anonymous publication of the cartoon. From its placement in the newspaper, it is unclear to the reader whether the cartoon represents the views of the newspaper or the personal views of a correspondent. The editor informs us the cartoon was a kind of pictorial letter to the editor, representing the personal views of the cartoonist. That should have been made clear. We think, too, if an individual chooses to make such a biting personal attack on another person, that individual should be willing to be known. To hide behind a cloak of anonymity under these circumstances seems, itself, a bit sleazy.

Grievance denied.

Concurring: Ashmore, Chucker, Flemming, Gilson, Graham, Hilger, Johnson, King, Larson, Orwoll, Pennock, Simonett, Stone, Sidin, Tanick, Warder