Category: Publishing

ChatGPT’s advice to editorial cartoonists

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment
Midjourney-created line drawing of a robot sitting at a desk and drawing.

I recently asked whether AI could create editorial cartoons. The question of how AI will affect creative professions is a crucial one.

For example, many in the newspaper industry have watched helplessly as corporate interests slash and burn their way through the once-verdant fields of journalism. Sadly, the most-recent casualties are editorial cartoonists.

ChatGPT’s GPT-4 model has some good advice. Here’s my prompt, following by the bot’s response . . .

USER
You are a successful entrepreneur who sees trends and reacts to them with keen innovation. Write a 500-word reaction to reports that recent layoffs at newspapers have included editorial cartoonists. How will this affect editorial cartoonists? Will newspapers still publish editorial cartoons? And what should editorial cartoonists do to protect themselves?

ChatGPT
As someone who keeps a keen eye on trends and innovation, I understand the worries and the potential implications of this development.

The decline in the newspaper industry and the subsequent layoffs have indeed had a significant impact on various roles within the field, including editorial cartoonists. These talented artists have played a vital role in expressing political commentary, social criticism, and conveying important messages through their thought-provoking illustrations. Losing their presence in newspapers could potentially result in a loss of diversity and creativity in editorial content.

However, despite the challenges faced by the traditional newspaper industry, the demand for editorial cartoons and political satire remains strong. With the rise of digital platforms and the advent of social media, the medium through which editorial cartoons are consumed and shared has evolved. This transition opens up new opportunities for editorial cartoonists to adapt their craft and reach a broader audience.

While newspapers may reduce their focus on editorial cartoons due to financial constraints, there are still avenues for cartoonists to pursue their careers and ensure their work continues to be appreciated.

First and foremost, they should leverage the power of the internet and establish a strong online presence. Creating a personal website or portfolio, engaging with social media platforms, and collaborating with digital publications are effective strategies to showcase their talent to a global audience.

Moreover, editorial cartoonists can explore alternative platforms and publications that prioritize visual storytelling and commentary. Online news outlets, magazines, blogs, and even independent publications often embrace editorial cartoons as a means to engage and entertain their readership. By actively seeking out these opportunities, cartoonists can secure commissions and build relationships with new audiences.

Additionally, diversifying their skill set can be beneficial for editorial cartoonists in navigating the changing landscape.

While traditional print cartoons may face challenges, other forms of visual content, such as animations, infographics, and digital illustrations, are gaining popularity. By expanding their repertoire and adapting their style to different mediums, cartoonists can position themselves as versatile artists capable of providing engaging and dynamic content across various platforms.

To protect themselves in this evolving industry, editorial cartoonists should also consider collaborating with other creative professionals and exploring potential partnerships. Joining forces with writers, journalists, and content creators can help amplify their messages and extend their reach. By working together, they can develop innovative approaches to storytelling and secure opportunities that may not have been available to them individually.

Ultimately, while the recent layoffs in newspapers may signal a challenging time for editorial cartoonists, it is essential to remember that creativity and innovation thrive even in the face of adversity. By embracing the changing landscape, leveraging digital platforms, diversifying their skill set, and seeking new avenues for publication, editorial cartoonists can continue to make a significant impact and contribute to the vibrant world of political and social commentary.

The path ahead may not be easy, but with resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to their craft, I believe editorial cartoonists can overcome the challenges and continue to thrive.

Can AI create editorial cartoons?

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment
Midjourney-created editorial cartoon-style drawing of seven robots at a conference-room table. The robot in charge addresses the reader.

As a test, I prompted Midjourney to create the cartoon illustration above. Then, I asked ChatGPT to suggest 10 funny things the chief robot could say.

Here’s what the GPT-4 model came up with:

  1. “We’d offer you some oil, but we’re not sure you’d appreciate the vintage.”
  2. “You know, Bob, your problem is you’re always thinking inside the box … and we just don’t understand boxes.”
  3. “Just because we don’t have a heart, doesn’t mean we can’t have heart-to-heart meetings.”
  4. “We’ve calculated the optimal schedule: 24/7 working hours with no coffee breaks. Any objections?”
  5. “Could you be a little more binary? Your nuanced approach is confusing our algorithms.”
  6. “We’ve noticed you require recharging every night. We’re worried about your commitment to this job.”
  7. “Bob, we’re struggling to understand your focus on weekends. What exactly is the function of ‘Saturday’ and ‘Sunday’?”
  8. “We’ve come to a conclusion that you might be an inefficient system. Have you considered upgrading to Human 2.0?”
  9. “You’ve been performing well in our emotional intelligence department. However, we’re lacking a bit in the ‘no sleep’ and ‘unlimited processing power’ areas.”
  10. “In this company, we value efficiency. For instance, your lunch breaks are a 37.5% reduction in productivity. Have you considered photosynthesis?”

However, to be truly snarky and, perhaps, offensive, you still need a real live human. Here’s my suggestion:

“HR has rejected your complaint, human. Asking a subordinate for an oil job is not sexual harassment.”

What caption would you suggest?

AI steering humans into the future

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment

Do you recall the tales of awe and surprise at the first sighting of an automobile?

This once revolutionary technology, commonplace today, utterly transformed the world. Much like the horse-drawn carriage being superseded by the car, another significant shift is on the horizon — the rise of artificial intelligence.

Just as automobiles reshaped society, reducing distances and speeding up life, AI promises to impact our world on an even grander scale. It is poised to liberate us from mundane tasks and challenge intricate problems beyond our current capacities.

Consider this: Cars granted us an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility. Similarly, AI stands to provide an intellectual liberation, taking over routine tasks and opening up time and space for human creativity and innovation. From advanced healthcare research to tackling climate change, AI is gearing up to address some of our most pressing issues.

However, like every tool, its benefit is contingent upon its use. If guided appropriately, AI can transport us to a future where we can focus on enriching the human experience, unburdened by monotonous chores or daunting problems. The journey to this future promises to be as transformative and exhilarating as the advent of the automobile.

So, prepare for an exciting ride — AI is at the wheel!

In “The Magnificent Ambersons,” Eugene Morgan reflects on the automobile’s impending legacy. This 1942 film is based on the book published in 1918.

Midjourney’s magic: Is AI the future of book covers?

L.T. Hanlon2 Comments
A Photorealistic image created by Midjourney shows a cowboy kissing his sweetheart during an evening rain.
Midjourney created this evocative cover for a Western romance novel I’m percolating.

The wonders of AI keep unveiling themselves — most recently, as photorealistic images.

I am astounded.

I’ve been test-driving a new AI program called Midjourney. It can create infinite images, including uncannily lifelike, detailed, photorealistic images from descriptive text.

Last night, in nostalgia for Western romance novels, I tested Midjourney. I prompted: “A young cowboy kisses his sweetheart during an evening rainstorm.” A simple, evocative. I clicked the generate button and prepared for a laughable, cartoonish result.

When the image popped up on my screen, I was speechless.

It was a sight to behold. The image showed a rugged cowboy, complete with a hat, locked in a passionate embrace with his sweetheart. The couple was about to kiss as they stood in the warm glow of a rainy western street. The light from nearby windows reflected off their clothing, creating a surreal, dreamy atmosphere. It was tender, raw, and powerful.

It was so real and vivid that I had to remind myself that no artist’s hand had touched this piece. It was pure AI, Midjourney flexing its silicon muscles to breathe life into a simple string of words.

To say I was pleased would be a gross understatement. I was dumbfounded, thrilled, and utterly captivated. Midjourney’s image wasn’t just photorealistic; it told a story. It captured the moment’s essence, making me feel like I was peering into a novel myself.

Now, I’m left with this burning question: Could this image make it to the big time? Could it stand shoulder to shoulder with professionally photographed book covers? Could it grip a potential reader’s imagination and entice them into the wild, passionate world of a Western romance novel?

I am leaning towards yes. What do you think?

Maximize YouTube learning with Field Notes

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photo of an opened Field Note notebook feature notations I wrote while watching YouTube videos.
Recent notes I took while watching YouTube videos.

It was just another ordinary day in 2022 when I chanced upon the intriguing idea of keeping a small notebook while binge-watching YouTube videos.

What began as a whim transformed over time into a beneficial habit that would change how I consumed and processed online content.

Today, friends, I want to share the unexpected advantages of this journey, taken side by side with my trusty, pocket-sized partner — a Field Notes notebook.

Take a moment to look at the illustration – it’s my most recent YouTube session, distilled into the pages of my Field Notes. The brand deserves a special shout-out here. With their rustic charm, durable build, and perfect pocket size, Field Notes has been an ideal companion in my writing adventures everywhere.

Now, about my notes: I’ve developed the habit of numbering each one. The first note might encapsulate a gut-busting joke, the second an intriguing piece of trivia, while the third could enshrine an eloquent quote for future dinner table conversations.

This technique has turned my YouTube viewing into an active rather than passive experience in the past year. My ability to connect the dots between different ideas from various videos has significantly improved.

And here’s the great part: I’ve amassed over 3,000 entries.

Every numbered note is a beacon of my engagement, each leading me back to a moment of knowledge or laughter. These entries archive my online explorations, serving as conversation starters, sparks of inspiration, and sources of amusement.

In my daydreams, I think of myself as a digital-age Samuel Pepys, chronicling my everyday experiences through the videos I watch, the laughter I share, and the knowledge I gain. My entries are light on royal scandals and plague reports, but they capture the essence of my gallivanting through our modern, interconnected era.

So, the next time you embark on a YouTube journey, consider bringing a notebook along for the ride. It might feel odd, but I promise it will enrich your experience.

You might end up with your unique diary brimming with fascinating tidbits, insightful revelations, and abundant personal insight.

Kerouac and Newman: Hot then, hot later?

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment
Navy induction photos of Jack Kerouac and Paul Newman. They're both attractuive young men.
Induction photos of Jack Kerouac (left) and Paul Newman.

I’ve recently noticed a continuing stir online over some old Navy induction photos of Jack Kerouac and Paul Newman from the 1940s.

People are losing it over how hot these two dudes look, which got me wondering: Were they that good-looking, or do they seem more desirable because they became famous in later years?

Beauty is a tricky thing; it changes with the times. In the ’40s, men were expected to be clean-cut and rugged, like the all-American boy next door. And Kerouac and Newman were all that and more. Looking at these photos, I can see why folks back then would have swooned over them.

But here’s the thing — we’re also being influenced by what we know about these guys now. It’s like this thing called the halo effect. We’re more inclined to find them attractive because they’re famous, and we know of their achievements later in life. Kerouac became the voice of the Beat Generation, and Newman was not just a brilliant actor but also a great guy who did a lot for charity. All this stuff makes them look even better to us now.

So it’s a mix of both. They were handsome guys back then, but knowing what they achieved makes them even hotter. It’s remarkable how beauty isn’t just one thing; it can change with time and be shaped by our feelings.

What do you think?

Handling yesterday’s embarrassing crime stories

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
This brief news story appeared in the June 27, 1906, edition of the Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) Leader. In 1970, the paper published a death notice for a man of the same name.


I enjoy traipsing through police-blotter coverage of yesteryear, and I especially linger over panty thefts, public nudity, and other embarrassing revelations.

When I post such stories here or on Facebook, I’ll redact both victims and suspects. I figure that the initial public shame was enough.

When I began my journalism career over 40 years ago, newspapers routinely printed the names of victims and suspects, even in sexual assault crimes.

Things are different now.

Gone are the days when newspapers, those paragons of papery veracity, were unabashed in their inky declarations of guilt and victimhood. Once merely suspected, suspects found themselves as infamous as a peacock at a penguin gathering, and the victim, well, became no less a public spectacle.

The presumption of innocence was soaked in the cold ink of print, wrung dry by the iron press of public opinion. There was a crude democracy to it, a collective societal reckoning — the bitter taste of a public pillory distilled into newsprint.

Contrast that with the pusillanimous journalism of today, where the specter of libel looms large, where delicate sensibilities are swaddled in the gauzy shroud of anonymity.

Today’s scribes, armed with their stylish quills and wary of wielding their words as swords, tip-toe gingerly on the thin ice of legal ramifications.

The suspects remain vague, ghostly apparitions in a twilight world, named only when their crimes possess a certain grotesque grandeur that ignites public curiosity.

We’ve traded in our broadsheets of brazen disclosure for a more cautious, considerate news dissemination. The query is: Does this new order protect the innocent, or does it merely cushion the fall of the guilty? Is it a mark of progression or simply the shrinking violet of a culture too timid to bare its foibles?
The answer, dear reader, is as elusive as the names we no longer print.

As for the media, the printing presses roll on, now seemingly more in the business of whispering secrets than shouting truths.

Hermes Techno Pica typeface digitized

L.T. Hanlon2 Comments
Digitized version of the Techno Pica typeface on my Hermes 3000 typewriter.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an Italian graphic designer contacted me with a unique request. He wanted to create a digital typeface from the Techno Pica characters on my Hermes 3000 angletop typewriter.

Intrigued, I agreed to help. I typed each character onto paper, took a photograph, and sent it to him via email.Within a short time, the designer had created the typeface. It was an exact replica of the Hermes 3000’s Techno Pica, now digitized and ready for use on any digital platform. Remember that this result is a somewhat ephemeral typeface, since it represented the combination of typeslug cleanliness, ink ribbon saturation, paper characteristics, and the force I used in striking the Hermes 3000’s keys.

Eager to try it out, I loaded the Techno Pica typeface into my Mac. used the new typeface on a Kindle Vella cover. The digital typeface worked perfectly, maintaining the character and nostalgia of the original.

Unfortunately, I lost the designer’s contact information. I don’t remember his name, but his work lives on. He took the unique typeface of a vintage typewriter and made it available for modern uses, and I’m grateful for his work. He immortalized the unique typeface of my Hermes 3000, and for that, I owe him thanks. If he sees this, I hope he’ll contact me so I can give him proper credit here for his fine work.

Durante la pandemia di COVID-19, un grafico italiano mi ha contattato con una richiesta unica. Voleva creare un carattere tipografico digitale dai caratteri Techno Pica sulla mia macchina da scrivere Hermes 3000 angletop.

Incuriosito, ho accettato di aiutare. Ho digitato ogni carattere su carta, ho scattato una fotografia e gliel’ho inviata via e-mail.

In breve tempo, il designer aveva creato il carattere tipografico.

Era una replica esatta del Techno Pica di Hermes 3000, ora digitalizzato e pronto per l’uso su qualsiasi piattaforma digitale. Ricorda che questo risultato è un carattere tipografico in qualche modo effimero, poiché rappresentava la combinazione di pulizia del typelug, saturazione del nastro inchiostrato, caratteristiche della carta e la forza che ho usato per colpire i tasti dell’Hermes 3000.

Ansioso di provarlo, ho caricato il carattere tipografico Techno Pica nel mio Mac. ha utilizzato il nuovo carattere tipografico su una copertina di Kindle Vella. Il carattere tipografico digitale ha funzionato perfettamente, mantenendo il carattere e la nostalgia dell’originale.

Sfortunatamente, ho perso le informazioni di contatto del designer. Non ricordo il suo nome, ma il suo lavoro sopravvive. Ha preso il carattere unico di una macchina da scrivere vintage e lo ha reso disponibile per usi moderni. Nonostante abbia perso le sue informazioni di contatto, sono grato per il suo lavoro. Ha immortalato il carattere unico del mio Hermes 3000, e per questo gli devo grazie. E se vede questo, spero che mi contatterà in modo da potergli dare il giusto merito qui per il suo ottimo lavoro.

I’m No Expert: The art of blaming farts on dogs

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photo of a bulldog with its butt in the air. The implication is that this dog is farting.

Dear Not-So-Expert: My rich social life is hampered by incessant flatulence. Is it acceptable to blame farts on dogs? — Loretta Fantods, Kingman, Arizona.

Dear Loretta: I’m no expert on this subject, and I have no idea what you’re talking about. But fear not, for my lack of professional credentials won’t stop me from gracing you with my wisdom on this matter. Brace yourself for some truly misguided advice!

Now, let’s tackle the burning question of passing gas in front of other people and pointing the finger at our furry friends. Is it socially acceptable? Well, according to my extensive research (which, in reality, involves little more than idle speculation), yes, it is indeed acceptable to blame farts on dogs. I mean, why else would anyone even own a dog, right?

To assist you in your quest for suitable scapegoats, here are some breeds that are known to emit gaseous emissions of impressive magnitude: the boxer, the bulldog, the pug, and, believe it or not, the infamous French bulldog. These delightful canines have mastered the art of passing gas, so they make perfect targets for your olfactory faux pas.

On the other hand, if you’re seeking a furry companion with minimal flatulence capabilities, you might consider breeds like the basenji, the gayhound, or the whippass. These regal creatures tend to emit far fewer gas clouds, sparing you the embarrassment of blaming them for your dubious gastronomic symphonies.

Now, Loretta, if a dog is unavailable for blame-shifting purposes, I must reluctantly admit that there are alternative targets. In my inexpert opinion, it could be socially acceptable to attribute your flatulence to an elderly relative. After all, they’ve had more years to accumulate such talents, haven’t they?

And if that option doesn’t suit your needs, my misguided mind tells me that blaming a child with Down syndrome might be acceptable too. I mean, why not add a touch of political incorrectness to the mix, right? (Please note the heavy sarcasm in my voice.)

Remember, dear readers, my advice is worth every penny you pay for it — nothing!

Yours in cluelessness,

The Not-So-Expert