Clay Bennett
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{{otheruses4|the cartoonist|the businessman|Clayton Bennett}}
'''Clay Bennett''' (born [[January 20]], [[1958]]) is an American [[editorial cartoon|editorial cartoonist]]. Currently drawing for the ''[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]'', Bennett is the winner of the [[2002 Pulitzer Prize]] for Editorial Cartooning.
Born in [[Clinton, South Carolina]], Bennett graduated from the [[University of North Alabama]] in [[1980]]. Worked as a staff artist for both the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' and the ''Fayetteville (NC) Times'' before being offered the editorial cartooning job at the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' in [[1981]]. Editorial cartoonist at the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' for 13 years, Bennett was fired in [[1994]]. While Bennett's editor Phil Gailey denied the firing was politically motivated, many observers saw it as part of the traditionally liberal newspaper's attempt to moderate its views. Bennett said "Many saw the termination as political because I was out there on the far left. Obviously expressing your point of view can cost you your job."<ref> Alicia C. Shepard. "Open season on editorial cartoonists?" ''[[American Journalism Review]]''. Dec 1994 v16 n10 p15.</ref>
Bennett served as editorial cartoonist for ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' from [[1997]] to [[2007]]. During that decade he was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize six times, receiving The [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning]] in [[2002]]. Bennett has earned almost every honor his profession has to offer including the [[Sigma Delta Chi Award]] ([[2001]]), the [[National Journalism Awards|National Journalism Award]] ([[2002]]), the [[National Cartoonist Society]] Award for Editorial Cartoons ([[2002]]), the [[Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award]] ([[2007]]), the [[John Fischetti|John Fischetti Award]] ([[2001]], [[2005]]), the [[Overseas Press Club]] Award ([[2005]], [[2007]]), the [[National Headliner Award]] ([[1999]], [[2000]], [[2004]]), and was named 'Editorial Cartoonist of the Year' by ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' magazine ([[2001]]).
A past president of the [[Association of American Editorial Cartoonists]], Bennett was hired by the ''[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]'' in [[2007]]. He lives in Tennessee with his wife, artist Cindy Procious, [http://www.cindyprocious.com] and family.
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{{succession box|before=[[Ann Telnaes]]|title=Winner of the [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning]]|years=2002|after=[[David Horsey]]}}
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==Notes==
<references/>
==External links==
* http://www.claybennett.com
* [http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2002/editorial-cartooning/ Pulitzer page]
* [http://www.reuben.org/ncs/awards.asp NCS Awards]
* [http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0425/p18s02-hfks.html "Man of many cartoons"], Steven Ellis, ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', April 25, 2006.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Clay}}
[[Category:Editorial cartoonists]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American cartoonists]]
[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning winners]]
[[Category:Christian Science Monitor people]]
[[Category:University of North Alabama alumni]]
[[es:Clay Bennett]]