Steve Breen
An innovative storyteller
Editorial cartoonist Steve Breen worked for the San Diego Union-Tribune for more than 20 years, practicing an art form that explained, questioned and poked fun at newsworthy occurrences, from local to global. He left the paper as part of the exodus when Alden Global Capital bought it a few months ago. His goodbye cartoon was memorable and sad. His hand is flicking the light switch off as he closes the door to his UT office.
Steve is a community treasure, helping our reporters tell their groundbreaking investigations visually, artistically.
Illustrated reporting projects
Steve Breen explores the human toll of fentanyl in this 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Illustrated Storytelling and Commentary.
Cartoons on local matters
About Steve
Steve Breen was born in Los Angeles, raised in Orange County and graduated from the University of California at Riverside with a degree in political science. Steve got his start in newspapers at the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey in 1994. He was offered the editorial cartoonist position at the The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2001 where he drew for 22 years. Steve is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize (1998, 2009), a finalist at inewsource (2025) and has won several broadcasting Emmys for his video work. He has written and illustrated several children’s books including Stick and Violet the Pilot and Sky and Ty. Steve lives in San Diego County with his family and enjoys tacos, running along the coast, playing the guitar and reading.
Founders Circle
Thank you to these generous donors for making it possible for Steve to work with inewsource:
Anne Evans
Mel Katz-Manpower
Jack McGrory
Patti Roscoe and Jim Tiffany
Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Karin Winner
