Life — December 8, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "In the College of Journalism" Cartoon Analysis This cartoon satirizes journalistic ethics and sensationalism in early 20th-century American newspapers. The scene depicts what appears to be a journalism classroom or newsroom where students/reporters are examining illustrated newspapers or comic supplements spread on a table. The caption presents a dialogue: a student (Enter) asks "What is the name of Horace Greeley is that?" The College Professor responds that it's "Professor Doake, who has the chair of comic supplements." The satire targets the rise of illustrated, sensational "comic supplement" sections in newspapers—suggesting they've become so dominant that they merit academic chairs. The joke critiques how entertainment-focused visual journalism was displacing serious news coverage and traditional journalistic standards, treating comics/illustrations as equivalent to serious editorial work.