Tony Doris has built a career unafraid of stirring the pot, especially during his long tenure at The Palm Beach Post, which has the prestigious recognition of a Pulitzer Prize and operates in the shadow of President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Over his two decades in West Palm Beach, Florida, Doris dug deep into the intricacies of local politics, serving as the editorial page editor until a cartoon brought his time there to an unexpected halt.
Last month, Gannett, the US’s largest newspaper chain and parent company of The Palm Beach Post, dismissed Doris. His decision to publish a cartoon about the Gaza conflict triggered this dismissal. The cartoon provoked an outcry in Palm Beach, including condemnation from a local Jewish organization that deemed it antisemitic. This reaction prompted a swift move from Gannett’s senior editors.
In a recent conversation, Doris, 67, clarified that the cartoon was meant to express antiwar sentiments, not antisemitism, and criticized Gannett’s top editors for not standing by their staff. “They’re scared of their own shadow,” he remarked. “It highlights a disconnect or unwillingness to embrace the role of an editorial page.”
Gannett released a statement asserting that the cartoon “did not meet our standards” and mentioned it “would not have been published if the proper protocols were followed.” They avoided detailing these protocols and refrained from commenting on Doris’s departure, citing privacy matters. Lark-Marie Antón, a spokeswoman for The Palm Beach Post, added, “We sincerely regret the error and have taken appropriate action to prevent this from happening again.”
In late January, Doris, who identifies as a Jewish supporter of Israel, opted to feature the cartoon in the print edition of The Palm Beach Post. The image depicted two Israeli soldiers rescuing a hostage held by Hamas, with a caption reading, “Some Israeli hostages are home after over a year of merciless war.” A soldier cautions, “Watch your step” as they navigate through a field of bodies labeled “over 40,000 Palestinians killed.”
Doris anticipated some murmurs from Palm Beach’s vocal Jewish community but was caught off-guard by the subsequent uproar. The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County purchased a full-page advertisement in the following Sunday’s paper denouncing the cartoon.
The Gannett editorial team intervened after the ad ran. Doris was swiftly suspended, and meetings were convened with stakeholders, including Michael Hoffman, CEO of the federation. According to Hoffman, Gannett’s editors apologized during the meeting and talked over ways to foster healthy dialogue on issues of concern to the local Jewish community.
Doris recounted being terminated the following week by a higher-up at Gannett, who accused him of violating company policies, although specifics were not provided and no severance was offered.
From Hoffman’s perspective, the cartoon trivialized the dire circumstances of hostages from the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, fueling antisemitic sentiments online. “Post-October 7th, there has been a notable increase in antisemitism, influenced by how the Gaza conflict has been portrayed in the media,” Hoffman noted. He voiced concern over a perceived lack of balanced reporting on the war.
The cartoon’s creator, Jeff Danziger, defended his work in an interview, denying antisemitic intent. “It’s just a commentary on how the war has dragged on for too long,” said Danziger, an Army veteran with Jewish heritage from his father’s side. His military service has shaped his critical view of warfare.
Reflecting on the situation, Doris stood by his choice to publish the cartoon, despite its role in his firing. He argued that newspapers’ opinion sections should spark essential discussions about war’s brutal realities. “Democracy needs journalists committed to the mission beyond just chasing clicks,” he insisted.
