Kevin Siers is the Pulitzer-Prize winning political cartoonist at the Charlotte Observer. For years, the paper featured a cartoon caption contest. The winner would receive the original black-and-white Siers cartoon with the winner’s submission and name penned in.
Siers picked my submission only three times out of a couple dozen attempts. However, it would be several months after winning that the cartoon would arrive in the mail. So I wasn’t all that motivated to enter very often.
However, when the contest featured the above cartoon of Kirk and Spock, I knew I had to take a stab at it. A week later, the paper published the winning caption — mine! — but I knew better than to hold my breath waiting for the cartoon. Weeks later, the paper announced it was ending the contests, and not long after that, the Observer sold its palatial headquarters and downsized into a rented office building. I figured I’d never see my prize.
So imagine my surprise when, out of the blue, I opened my mailbox almost two years later to discover the original color version with my caption and name added. I emailed my thanks to Mr. Siers, and framed the cartoon. Kirk and Spock now look down over my desk, inspiring and challenging me.
Spock’s words pretty much sum up the fate of print journalism.
M.C. Tuggle, Writer 
Congratulations.
That was a clever caption [it took me a second to get it] and a fun prize made all the more fun because it is a piece of history now that the paper is no longer what it once was.
LikeLiked by 2 people
ralietravels,
I appreciate that very much.
LikeLike
That is some clever wording right there. I would be so proud of that, congratulations.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Tales from the Neon Beach,
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They must have used an actual snail to deliver the cartoon to you. But better late than never.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, Another Blogger,
Sometimes I wondered about that.
LikeLike
Take care, Mike.
Neil Scheinin
LikeLike
What a great surprise and appropriate caption!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Henry,
Hey, thanks for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh so wonderful, MIke! 🙂 Sharing…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bette!
LikeLiked by 1 person
(…forgive, but I have to…) May you… live long. And prosper.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Congratulations, Mike.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jack,
Thank you. It’s one of my most cherished writing souvenirs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t go wrong with Kirk and Spock!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A Classic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome. I have tried entering the caption contest for The New Yorker to no avail… yet. Do you think print journalism is dead though? I am a freelancer for several newspapers and magazines around my region. Only one of them is strictly online. I actually prefer print, both to read and to write for. Just curious if you still feel that way.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Philosophical Fighter,
Print might not be dead, but it’s mighty sick. That’s not my preference; it’s just an observation. Subscriptions are down, layoffs are rife, and more people are getting their news off the ‘net.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Mike!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jennie!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Mike!
LikeLiked by 1 person