Jack Ohman promoted to deputy opinion editor of Sacramento Bee, embraces ‘first real job’

Sacramento Bee editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman has been promoted to deputy opinion editor. In his expanded role, Ohman will write more editorials and columns focused on local and state issues. He will also help edit The Bee’s California Forum opinion section.

“Jack Ohman is more than just some mere cartoonist with a talent for winning big prizes,” said Bee Executive Editor Lauren Gustus. “He’s a lightning-fast writer and thoughtful critic with a keen eye for powerful arguments. In recognition of the wide-ranging editorial role Jack plays on the Opinion page, he will now have the title of Deputy Opinion Editor. He’ll still draw his daily cartoons, but will write more columns and editorials and help edit and compose material for digital and the Sunday opinion section.”

Ohman, a Minnesota native, won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 2016. He came to The Bee in 2013 after decades at The Oregonian in Portland. He previously worked at the Detroit Free Press and the Columbus Dispatch. In 2009, Jack won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. He’s also the author of 10 books.

“Jack is a confirmed social butterfly who talks to a wide range of people and always has new ideas for topics which he is happy to assign to his colleagues,” said Gil Duran, The Bee’s California opinion editor. “Now Jack will more regularly wield the editorial pen with the same searing insight he brings to our pages with his cartoons.”

“This is a wonderful moment for me at this point in my career,” said Ohman. “I have always thought of myself as a writer who can draw (almost), and I am tremendously pleased to help Gil and my colleagues get our opinion pages out to our readers on all platforms. It may also be my first real job.”

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This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 8:00 AM.