This research is focused on the potential of news and editorial illustration on multiplatform newspapers that include a mobile version for smartphone access. The study aims at comprehending how the multiplatform news setting impacts illustration and for what reasons is illustration losing ground among other images on newspapers, making it difficult for its insertion on the mobile versions of them. Our study undertook a literature review on the subject and interviewed 40 brazilian professionals from the news industry (illustrators and art editors). Documental research and analysis of illustrated material published during the years of development was also included. The study strove to: identify the functions of newspaper illustrations; to understand how the illustrator fits into today s news routines; to reflect on elements of design, layout and composition in the production and appreciation of illustration; to identify and understand technical challenges for the experience of illustration on smartphones (mobile versions); and to understand how the field of work realizes newspaper illustration and its craft today. Every image produced by a professional illustrator for daily news was considered news illustration, including cartooning – editorial cartoons, caricature and comics – and all drawing illustrating content in opinion journalism as well as information graphics that include illustration. Photographic images and those with an objetive role in information journalism, as well as graphics and data visualization, were not included.