"Watch your local newspaper!!!"
A woman seen from behind holds open a newspaper headed 'Local Press' whose headlines announce Ration Book No. 4, registration dates and instructions to appear in the paper; a small item reads 'War Bonds'. The tell is the instruction itself: official rationing procedure is routed through the local press, and the cartoon models the reader's compliance.
Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of War Information (cartoon artwork; artist Charles Alston)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance, Media and information
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives, RG 208, OWI Cartoon Artworks and Mockups (NAID 535594), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of War Information. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 208, 208-COM-140 (NAID 535653).
Text on the object
LOCAL PRESS RATION BOOK No.4 SOON TO BE ISSUED. REGISTRATION FROM OCTOBER 15 TO NOVEMBER 2. RATION BOOK No.4 WILL BE ISSUED THROUGH LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UPON PRESENTATION OF RATION BOOK No.3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF RATION BOOK No.4 WILL APPEAR IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER. NO BOOKS TO BE ISSUED BY MAIL NEW BOOK TO BE KNOWN AS "FOOD BOOK" WAR BONDS "WATCH YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER!!!" Alston OWI
