Backderf wins RFK award

John Backderf, who was on the BJ art department staff in 1995-99, has received an RFK award for cartoons published in 2005.

"The City" by Derf, a cartoon staple in weekly papers throughout the country, including The Village Voice, Cleveland Scene, Miami New Times, DC City Paper and Denver Westword, has been awarded a prestigious RFK Journalism Award for cartoons published in 2005.

Derf was previously the winner of the 2005 Altie Award for Best Comic strip, handed out last July by the Association of Alternative Newspapers. In 2004 he won a Green Eyeshade Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. No word yet on the coveted Buckeye Newshawk Award.

The RFK judges write the following: "The City" by John Backderf is a courageous editorial cartoon that pushes the boundaries of societal institutions. The RFK Cartoon Judges comment, "Derf aggressively attacks the institutions, ideologies and attitudes that create an environment for the continuing oppression and exploitation of the powerless. His outrage is directed not just at the cynicism and hypocrisy of the powerful but at the complicity of all of us who remain docile and passive subjects."

Nicknamed the "Poor Man's Pulitzer", the RFK Journalism Award is given annually to honor professional and student journalists, photographers and cartoonists who prod our consciousness and bring attention to the lives of the disadvantaged throughout the world.

Derf was born and raised in Richfield . In high school he received a 'D' in art for drawing too many cartoons in class.

For pithy quotes, contact Derf at 216-752-9389 or derfcity@en.com