Life — August 17, 1922 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon depicting what appears to be newspapers or publications as shadowy figures examining a map of New York State. The visible text on their hands/arms includes references to newspaper names: "Herald Examiner," "Pan-Francis Examiner," and "Chicago Herald Examiner," with "Albany" marked on the map below. The cartoon satirizes newspaper monopolies or consolidation—specifically, how major newspaper chains (particularly Hearst publications, suggested by the "Examiner" references) were expanding control across different cities and regions. The silhouetted, grasping hands suggest predatory acquisition of media outlets. The focus on Albany (New York's capital) indicates this concerns state-level political implications of concentrated newspaper power. This reflects early 20th-century concerns about media monopolies and their influence on democracy.