A student cartooning contest in which each entrant draws a single opinion cartoon on a news issue, judged as a piece of visual commentary rather than a decorative drawing.
Editorial Cartooning is an individual art item in which the entrant produces a cartoon that takes a position on a public issue, the way a newspaper’s opinion page does. It is judged on the finished drawing and the idea behind it, not on how well it is performed, and in the school press circuit that uses it most it is scored out of 100.
A round usually hands the entrant a theme or a current issue and a fixed working time, with paper and drawing materials supplied or specified by the organiser. In the Philippine national schools press circuit in the data it runs in both English and Filipino, because any caption, label or speech balloon is written in the chosen language, at Elementary (Grades 1 to 6) and Secondary (Grades 7 to 12) level, with one contestant per school per category.
A strong entry makes one clear point at a glance. It usually relies on a single central image or metaphor, a few well-chosen labels so the reader knows who or what is being represented, and a caption or line of text that sharpens the message. Fine linework helps, but a plain drawing with a sharp idea beats a polished one that says nothing.
Organisers run it because it brings visual thinking into a school journalism programme alongside the writing items. It teaches students to form an opinion, support it with a fair image, and respect the line between criticism and insult or libel.
Where Editorial Cartooning is run
The clearest use in the data is a national schools press conference in the Philippines, where Editorial Cartooning is one of the individual contests held at each tier from school to national. Editorial and political cartooning categories also appear in student newspaper awards and journalism festivals elsewhere, though the rules on theme, time and materials differ from event to event.
- Philippines
Key facts
- Individual entry, open to boys and girls alike.
- Marked out of 100 in the national schools circuit; the template carries no printed breakdown for this item, so none is shown here.
- Runs in English and Filipino (the language of any caption or labels), at Elementary (Grades 1 to 6) and Secondary (Grades 7 to 12) level.
- Judged on the submitted drawing; the template sets no stage time limit, so working time is for the organiser to announce.
- Differs from a general drawing item: the cartoon must argue a point about an issue, not simply depict a scene.
On eTalenter, Editorial Cartooning is filed under Art and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 1 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Editorial Cartooning is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 100.
The scoring method the templates attach to this item, and what that scale means. The category this competition is filed under when a template is installed. Others in this category: Painting, Drawing, Sketching, Cartooning, Poster Making, Rangoli, Clay Modeling, Craft, Collage eTalenter matches an item to its criteria on the words in its name, and creates exactly these when the template is installed. No criteria match this name, so none are created automatically — judges score it on the event’s own criteria instead.How it is scored
Where it sits
Judging criteria installed for it
What judges look at in Editorial Cartooning
What a Editorial Cartooning panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Idea and message: the cartoon should make one clear, defensible point about the stated issue that a reader grasps without explanation.
- Originality: a fresh image or metaphor wins over a copied cartoon, a stock symbol used without a twist, or a character borrowed from elsewhere.
- Drawing and composition: clean lines, a clear focal point and sensible use of space. Judges forgive modest skill if the picture reads well.
- Use of text: labels, captions and balloons should be brief, correctly spelt and in the chosen language, and should add to the picture rather than repeat it.
- Fairness and ethics: criticism of an issue or public action is welcome, but personal insults, stereotyping or unfair accusations lose marks.
- Relevance and neatness: the entry must answer the assigned theme and be finished tidily within the time allowed.
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Editorial Cartooning under Scoring Setup, or start from the judge scoring and tabulation guide.
How to prepare for Editorial Cartooning
How entrants and their teachers usually get Editorial Cartooning right on the day:
- Read editorial cartoons in newspapers every week and ask what the single point is and which image carries it, before you look at the caption.
- Practise turning an issue into a metaphor: write the point in one sentence, then list three possible images before choosing the clearest.
- Time yourself. Spend the first part of the session planning with a small thumbnail sketch, so the full drawing is not a first attempt.
- Keep the composition simple: one main figure or object, a few labels, and plenty of white space so the focus is obvious.
- Practise lettering for captions and labels in both languages, and check spelling before you finish.
- Aim your criticism at the issue or the action, never at a person’s appearance or background.
- Bring and test the materials the organiser allows, since pens and markers that bleed through the paper can spoil a clean entry.
- After a lost round, ask which area let you down: unclear idea, crowded drawing, or weak text are the usual causes.
Events that run this (1)
Ready-made templates that already include this competition. Installing one sets it up for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Editorial Cartooning judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter’s templates it’s most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Is editorial cartooning the same as drawing a cartoon character?
No. A character cartoon entertains, while an editorial cartoon comments on a news issue. The judges look for a clear opinion expressed through the image, not for a likeable character.
How is Editorial Cartooning marked?
It is marked out of 100 in the national schools circuit. The template does not print a breakdown for this item, so an organiser should publish their own score sheet before the day.
Do I have to add words to the cartoon?
That depends on the event rules. Short labels or a caption usually help the reader, and where the contest runs in two languages the words should be in the language you entered.
Is it judged individually or as a team?
Individually. Each school sends one contestant per category and language.
Similar competitions
Items whose names share a word with this one — usually the same discipline in another form.
Want the full judging picture? Read the judge scoring and tabulation guide, or browse every art competition item.
Try Editorial Cartooning in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Editorial Cartooning, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
