Chicago Reader editor Mark Konkol out after controversy over Pritzker cartoon

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Sunday, February 18, 2018
Cartoon of J.B. Pritzker stirs controversy
A racially provocative cartoon about J.B. Pritzker and his controversial comments about two prominent black political leaders was called race-baiting Thursday.
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CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Reader editor Mark Konkol departed from the publication Saturday after ten days on the job.

Sun-Times Media CEO Edwin Eisendrath said in a statement released Saturday that Konkol came to the Reader "bringing great hope for a new direction and a new life to a storied brand."

"A tumultuous ten days culminated in the publication of a Reader cover that we believe was not in line with either our vision for the Reader or that storied history," Eisendrath wrote.

On Thursday, the Reader's cover featured a racially provocative cartoon of J.B. Pritzker that referenced the candidate's controversial comments about black political leaders.

The cartoon shows Pritzker sitting on a lawn jockey and making a phone call that is being wire-tapped.

Some readers called the cartoon race-baiting.