An important highlight of the World Press Freedom Day Luncheon is the recognition of editorial cartoonists from around the world who have used images and words to make powerful commentary on world issues.

The International Editorial Cartoon Competition receives hundreds of entries every year, often from countries where press freedom is not a reality but a distant dream.

The theme for the 24th International Editorial Cartoon Competition is:

Artificial Intelligence: Yes or No?

Some believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will solve all our problems while it inspires apocalyptic talk in others.

AI can help journalists gather information, but “deep fakes” and voice simulators capable of generating believable audio segments, can sow doubt about the authenticity of content and put democracy at risk.

On the other hand, some politicians brandish the term “fake news” to denounce opposing opinions or deny reality.

Finally, using AI to generate illustrations on demand robs artists of their work and infringes on their copyright.

Fortunately, AI hasn’t yet figured the number of fingers on one hand.

Competition rules

Three prizes will be awarded:

  • First prize worth $1500 plus a Certificate from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
  • Second prize worth $750
  • Third prize worth $500

All sums are in Canadian dollars.

Ten additional cartoons will receive an Award of Excellence, which are not remunerated.

Only one cartoon may be submitted by each participant, either in colour or black and white, but must not have won an award previously. World Press Freedom Canada reserves the right to use the winning cartoons for promotion of the Cartoon Competition.

The winners of the Cartoon Competition will be announced at our annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 2, 2024, and will be advised by e-mail.

The winner’s names and their cartoons will be posted on our website.

The deadline for reception of the cartoon is 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Saving Time), Friday, April 5, 2024.

Submissions to the International Editorial Cartoon Competition are closed!

Canadian editorial cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon wins 2024 International Editorial Cartoon Competition

Canadian cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon won the International Editorial Cartoon Contest for his cartoon based on the theme of Artificial Intelligence: Yes or No?

Brazil’s Dalcio Machado won second place and Serbia’s Jugoslav Vlahovic placed third.

AI can help journalists gather information, but deep fakes and voice simulators capable of generating credible audio segments can cast doubt on the authenticity of content and put democracy at risk.

2024 Runners Up

Miraee, Iranian living in U.S., wins 2023 international editorial cartoon contest

Ali Miraee, an Iranian cartoonist living in the United States, is the winner of WPFC’s international editorial cartoon contest which awards a cash prize of $1,500.

Anne Darenne of France was the second place finisher. Miguel Morales Madrigal of Cuba won the third prize.

This year’s theme for the cartoon contest is: ‘Free Speech or Free For All?’ Curated by committee member and Le Droit cartoonist Guy Badeaux, the contest drew 470 submissions from 62 countries.

Marilena Nardi wins 2022 International Editorial Cartoon Competition

Cancel culture was the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Canada International Cartoon Contest. It was tackled by 443 entrants.

First prize goes to Marilena Nardi of Italy. Nardi is a previous winner of the World Press Freedom cartoon contest and the first woman to win the World Press Cartoon award in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. After graduating in sculpture, she is now Professor of illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. She has drawn for many periodicals such as Diario, Corriere della Sera, L’Antitempo and Il Fatto Quotidiano. Recent collaborations are those for the weekly Left, the French magazines Espoir, Zélium and Siné Madame.

Second place belongs to Canadian Patrick LaMontagne. After answering an ad in the Banff Crag and Canyon newspaper in 1997, LaMontagne suddenly found himself with a weekly editorial cartoon. In 2001, he accepted the editorial cartoonist position with The Rocky Mountain Outlook newspaper, the same year he became
nationally syndicated. By 2005, he was a full-time cartoonist, illustrator and digital painter, despite having no formal art training. He lives in Canmore.

Tošo Borković of Serbia takes third place. Borković was educated in Ruma and Sarajevo. Early on, he started his career as full-time cartoonist in Serbia’s most circulated daily, Vecernjie Novosti, in Belgrade. He has collaborated with many magazines and publishing houses in Serbia. He also drew a daily comic for eight years at the beginning of his career. He has participated in many international competitions and festivals in Serbia where he has received over 80 awards and recognitions. He lives in Belgrade.