The National Society of Newspaper Columnists sponsors an annual contest for published columnists (as opposed to a competition among student writers, which also is offered). While it’s no Pulitzer — yet — a glance through these previous winners shows a number of familiar, prominent names. More information on the contest is posted at among these articles. Each year, below, indicates the year the prizes were presented; the columns were published the previous year. Disclaimer: As the profession has changed and the NSNC itself has evolved, the contest categories and rules have updated as well.
2012 Winners
Category A. General Interest (print) over 50,000 circulation
- Gendy Alimurung, LA Weekly
- Dave Lieber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Derrick Z. Jackson, The Boston Globe
- Honorable mentions: Mike Kelly, The Record, Bergen County, N.J., and Jim Schutze, Dallas Observer.
B. Humor (print) over 50,000 circulation
- Samantha Bennett, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Alice Laussade, Dallas Observer
- Kathy Eliscu, Maine Women, Portland
C. General Interest (print) under 50,000 circulation
- Eve Samples, The Stuart (Fla) News
- Ken Tingley, The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.
- Saralee Perel, Cape Cod (Mass.) Times
- Honorable mentions: Walt Brasch, Shamokin (Pa.) News-Item, and Mary Phelan, The Howard County (Md.) Times.
D. Humor (print) under 50,000 circulation
- Laura Rafaty, St.Helena (Calif.) Star
- Jerry Zezima, Stamford (Conn.) Advocate
- Saralee Perel, Cape Cod (Mass.) Times
E. Online, Blog and Multimedia columns with over 100,000 monthly unique visitors
- John Avlon, The Daily Beast
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
- Roger Simon, Politico
- Honorable mentions: Mary C. Curtis, Washington Post contributor, and Russell Frank, StateCollege.com.
F. Online, Blog and Multimedia under 100,000 monthly unique visitors
- Mike Farley, Farley in Writing
- Ivy Eisenberg, Schmeightschmatchers
- Amy White, Waiting for Merlot
2011 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 50,000 circulation)
- 1st: Mike Kelly, The Record, Bergen County, N.J.
- 2nd: Joel Brinkley, Tribune Media Services
- 3rd: Mike Argento, York (Pa.) Daily Record
- Honorable Mention, Helen Ubinas, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
Humor (newspapers over 50,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bill Ervolino, The Record, Bergen County, N.J.
- 2nd: Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- 3rd: Mark Woods, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
- Honorable Mention, Anne Palumbo, Brighton-Pittsford (N.Y.) Post
General Interest (newspapers under 50,000 circulation)
- 1st: Trisha Blanchet, The Sun, Lowell, Mass.
- 2d: Jennifer Graham, Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal
- 3rd: Ken Tingley, The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.
- Honorable Mention, Mary Robbins Phelan, The Howard County (Md.) Times
- Honorable Mention, Lynn Rebuck, Lititz (Pa.) Record Express
Humor (newspapers under 50,000 circulation)
- 1st: Steve Symanovich, San Francisco Business Times
- 2nd: John Philipp, Sausalito (Calif.) Marinscope
- 3rd: Dawn Weber, Buckeye Lake (Ohio) Beacon
- Honorable Mention, Pat Detmer, Newcastle (Wash.) News
Online, Blog and Multimedia (over 100,000 unique monthly visitors)
- 1st: Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
- 2nd: John Avlon, The Daily Beast
- 3rd: Mary Curtis, Politics Daily
Online, Blog and Multimedia (under 100,000 unique monthly visitors)
- 1st: Jeff Brown, Master of None
- 2nd: Russell Frank, StateCollege.com
- 3rd: Tracy Beckerman, Self-Syndicated
2010 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Tom Rademacher, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press
- 2nd: Norris Burkes, Gannett News Service
- 3rd: Peg McEntee, Salt Lake Tribune
- Honorable Mention: Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News
- 2nd: Samantha Bennett, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- 3rd: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Advertiser
- Honorable Mentions: Terry Marotta, self-syndicated; and Jim Shea, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Sarah Fenske, Phoenix New Times
- 2nd: Patricia Calhoun, Westword, Denver
- 3rd: Leanne Libby, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times
- Honorable Mention: Ed Grisamore, Telegraph, Macon, Ga.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jeff Girod, Inland Empire Weekly, Corona, Calif.
- 2nd: Karen Rinehart, Independent Tribune, Kannapolis, N.C.
- 3rd: Mark O’Brien, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal
- Honorable Mentions: Trisha Blanchet, Sun, Lowell, Mass.; and Bill Nash, Ventura County (Calif.) Star
Online Columns
- 1st: Donna Terek, Detroit News
- 2nd: Russell Frank, StateCollege.com, State College, Pa.
- 3rd: Joel Schwartzberg, Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.
Blog Columns
- 1st: Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
- 2nd: Mary Curtis, AOL PoliticsDaily.com
- 3rd: Joanne Salemink, sandwichmomonwry.blogspot.com
- Honorable Mentions: John Boston, thebostonreport.net; and Maggie Van Ostrand, huffingtonpost.com and texasescapes.com
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Michael McIntyre, Plain Dealer, Cleveland
- 2nd: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 3rd: Bob Dyer, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
- Honorable Mentions: Ed Addeo, Marinscope Newspapers, Marin County, Calif.; and Russ Lemmon, Vero Beach (Fla.) Press Journal
2009 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Tom Rademacher, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press
- 2nd: Mary Curtis, Charlotte (N.C.) Observer/Washington Post
- 3rd: Rick Green, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- Honorable Mention: Dave Lieber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Katy St. Clair, SF Weekly, San Francisco
- 2nd: Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star
- 3rd: Samantha Bennett, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Sam Cook, News-Press, Fort Myers, Fla.
- 2nd: Adam McCune, New Hampshire Union Leader
- 3rd: Ken Tingley, Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.
- Honorable Mention: Chuck Strouse, Miami New Times
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: John Boston, Signal, Santa Clarita, CA
- 2nd: Elyse Wanshel, Miami New Times
- 3rd: Trisha Blanchet, Sun, Lowell, Mass
Online Columns
- 1st: Kelli Wheeler, sacmomsclub.com, Sacramento Bee (co-writer Jen Hall joined in accepting the award)
- 2nd: Joel Schwartzberg, Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.
- 3rd: Judy Gruen, Aish.com, Los Angeles
- Honorable Mentions: Walter Brasch, American Reporter, Bloomsburg, Pa.; Lloyd Garver, cbsnews.com, Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Ben Pollock, benpollock.com/brick, Fayetteville, Ark.
Blog Columns
- 1st: Patricia Coakley, singleforareason.com, Franklin, Mass.
- 2nd: Stephen Lemons, phoenixnewtimes.com
- 3rd: Will Bunch, Philadelphia Daily News
- Honorable Mentions: Joel Schwartzberg, Huffington Post; Roy Edroso, Village Voice
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Mark Lane, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
- 2nd: Dave Lieber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- 3rd: Bob Dyer, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
- Honorable Mentions: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.; Russ Lemmon, Vero Beach (Fla.) Press Journal
2008 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Susan Campbell, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- 2nd: David Giffels, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
- 3rd: Bob Dyer, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
- Honorable Mention: Ronnie Polaneczky, Philadelphia Daily News
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Lynn Yaeger, Village Voice
- 2nd: Bill Ervolino, Record, northern New Jersey
- 3rd: Brian O’Connor, Detroit News
- Honorable Mentions: Elmer Smith, Philadelphia Daily News; Daniel Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Cindy Lange-Kubick, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
- 2nd: Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
- 3rd: James Smart, Intercounty Newspaper Group, Philadelphia
- Honorable Mention: John Hourihan, Connecticut Post
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Robert Simpson, Polk County Post, Mena, Ark.
- 2nd: Saralee Perel, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
- 3rd: Mary Bufe, Webster-Kirkwood Times, Webster Groves, Mo.
Online Columns
- 1st: Alan Paul, Wall Street Journal
- 2nd: Joel Schwartzberg, Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.
- 3rd: Robert Gilbert, Gilbert Communications, Maryville, Tenn.
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Edmund Newton, New Times (Broward), Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- 2nd: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 3rd: Russ Lemmon, Vero Beach (Fla.) Press Journal
2007 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bill Johnson, Denver Rocky Mountain News
- 2nd: Tina Griego, Denver Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post
- 3rd: Jonathan Nicholas, Oregonian, Portland
- Honorable Mention: Sheena McFarland, Salt Lake Tribune
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Brian O’Connor, Detroit News
- 2nd: Mike Harden, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
- 3rd: Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Honorable Mention: Susan Nielsen, Oregonian, Portland
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Alfred Doblin, Herald News, northern New Jersey
- 2nd: Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
- 3rd: Cindy Lange-Kubick, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
- Honorable Mentions: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin; Ken Dixon, Connecticut Post
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Richard Connelly, Houston Press
- 2nd: Erin Alberty, Saginaw (Mich.) News
- 3rd: Raymond Reid, Kernersville (N.C.) News
- Honorable Mention: Michael Gallagher, Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record
Online Columns
- 1st: Glenda Wolin, MySA.com, San Antonio Express-News
- 2nd: Joseph White, WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal
- 3rd: Terri Cullen, WSJ.com, Wall Street Journal
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Russ Lemmon, Toledo (Ohio) Blade
- 2nd: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 3rd: Will Harper, East Bay Express
2006 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
- 2nd: Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- 3rd: Ernesto Portillo Jr., Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
- Honorable Mentions: Steve Duin, Oregonian, Portland; Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star; Bill Johnson, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: W. Bruce Cameron, Denver Rocky Mountain News
- 2nd: Jason Love, Ventura County (Calif.) Star
- 3rd: Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Lindor Reynolds, Winnipeg Free Press
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Kate Fratti, Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times
- 2nd: John Young, Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald
- 3rd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Chris Coursey, Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Steve Symanovich, San Francisco Business Times
- 2nd: Debra Garfinkle, Aliso Viejo (Calif.) News
- 3rd: Jerry Zezima, Stamford (Conn.) Advocate
- Honorable Mention: Matt James, Fresno (Calif.) Bee
Online Columns
- 1st: Benjamin Brewer, Wall Street Journal Online
- 2nd: Carl Bialik, Wall Street Journal Online
- 3rd: Sally Allen, NewsOK.com, Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 2nd: Mark O’Brien, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal
- 3rd: Linda Caillouet, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
2005 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jeff Zaslow, Wall Street Journal
- 2nd: Tina Griego, Denver Rocky Mountain News
- 3rd: Sally Kalson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Sharon Begley, Wall Street Journal
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Susan Nielsen, Oregonian, Portland
- 2nd: Jim Shea, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- 3rd: Andrea Peyser, New York Post
- Honorable Mentions: Sureva Towler, Denver Post; Jason Love, Ventura County (Calif.) Star
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bob Norman, New Times (Broward), Palm Beach, Fla.
- 2nd: Michael Murphy, Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass.
- 3rd: Susan Hess, Hood River (Ore.) News
- Honorable Mention: Paul Silva, Beach Reporter, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Raymond Reid, Kernersville (N.C.) News
- 2nd: John Young, Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald
- 3rd: Saralee Perel, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
- Honorable Mentions: Garret Mathews, Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press; Courtney Hambright, New Times (Broward), Palm Beach, Fla.
Online Columns
- 1st: Mark Morford, San Francisco Chronicle
- 2nd: Dan Froomkin, Washington Post
- 3rd: Terri Cullen, Wall Street Journal
- Honorable Mentions: Carol Lloyd, San Francisco Chronicle; and Sally Allen, Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 2nd: D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: Dan Gross, Philadelphia Daily News
- Honorable Mention: Catherine Bigelow, San Francisco Chronicle
2004 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Mike Kelly, Record, Hackensack, N.J.
- 2nd: Tina Griego, Denver Rocky Mountain News
- 3rd: Robert Jamieson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Honorable Mention: Mike Harden, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle
- 2nd: Mark Lane, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
- 3rd: Susan Nielsen, Oregonian, Portland
- Honorable Mentions: Dan Bernstein, Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif.; Bill Nash, Ventura County (Calif.) Star
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Doug Robinson, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
- 2nd: Tony Messenger, Columbia, Mo., Daily Tribune
- 3rd: Norris Burkes, Florida Today
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- 2nd: Tom Hill, Valley News, White River Junction, Vt.
- 3rd: Melissa Baumann, Navy Times
- Honorable Mentions: Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.; Gary Sandy, Woodland, Calif., Daily Democrat
Online Columns
- 1st: Tim Hanrahan and Jason Fry, Wall Street Journal, WSJ.com
- 2nd: Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor, CSMonitor.com
- 3rd: Cynthia L. Webb, Washington Post, WashingtonPost.com
- Honorable Mention: Sheila Lennon, Providence (R.I.) Journal, ProJo.com
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 2nd: Doug Robarchek, Charlotte (N.C.) Observer
- 3rd: Paul Rubin and Patti Epler, Phoenix New Times
- Honorable Mentions: Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News; Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
2003 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jeff Zaslow, Wall Street Journal
- 2nd: Eric Lacitis, Seattle Times
- 3rd: Margie Boule, Oregonian, Portland
- Honorable Mentions: Kathleen Parker, Orlando Sentinel; Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: W. Bruce Cameron, Denver Rocky Mountain News
- 2nd: Doug Robarchek, Charlotte (N.C.) Observer
- 3rd: Chris Neely, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Honorable Mentions: Margery Eliscu, Maine Sunday Telegram; Rick Horowitz, syndicated
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Karin Vingle, Sunday Gazette-Mail, Charleston, W.V.
- 2nd: Jeff German, Las Vegas Sun
- 3rd: Peggy Treiber, Morning News, Springdale, Ark.
- Honorable Mentions: Terry Bibo, Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star; Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: John Young, Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald
- 2nd: Tom Hill, Valley News, White River Junction, Vt.
- 3rd: Scott Hamilton Wood, Lumina News, Baileyville, Maine
- Honorable Mentions: David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Claremont, Calif.; Mike Argento, York (Pa.) Daily Record; Joe Livernois, Monterey County Herald, Salinas, Calif.; Steven Slosberg, Day, New London, Conn.
Online Columns
- 1st: Mark Morford, SFGate.com
- 2nd: Jeremy Dauber, CSMonitor.com
- 3rd: Julia Smillie Carey, STLtoday.com
- Honorable Mention: Alan Drooz, SignOnSanDiego.com
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle
- 2nd: D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: Bill Tammeus, Kansas City Star
- Honorable Mention: David Zinman, Horry Independent, Conway, S.C.
2002 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Nat Hentoff, Village Voice
- 2nd: Jill Stewart, New Times, Los Angeles
- 3rd: S. Renee Mitchell, Oregonian, Portland
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Joe Blundo, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
- 2nd: Jim Shea, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- 3rd: Bill Ervolino, Record, Hackensack, N.J.
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: David Chartrand, Olathe (Kansas) Daily News
- 2nd: Mike Argento, York (Pa.) Daily Record
- 3rd: Denise Kusel, New Mexican, Santa Fe
- Honorable Mention: Charles Trentelman, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah; Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Michael Miller, South Florida Business Journal
- 2nd: Michael Gallagher, Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record
- 3rd: Marty Levine, In Pittsburgh Weekly
Online Columns
- 1st: Suz Redfearn, Baltimore City Paper
- 2nd: Julia Smillie Carey, St. Louis-Post Dispatch
- (No third place award)
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Howie Stalwick, Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Press
- 2nd: Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune
- 3rd: Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News
2001 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jill Stewart, New Times, Los Angeles
- 2nd: John L. Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 3rd: Robert L. Wolke, Washington Post
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- 2nd: Bill Ervolino, Record, Hackensack, N.J.
- 3rd: Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Honorable Mention: Jim Shea, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
Business (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Robert Trigaux, St. Petersburg Times
- 2nd: Charles A. Jaffe, Boston Globe
- 3rd: Froma Harrop, Providence (R.I.) Journal
- Honorable Mention: Kathleen Gallagher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sports (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Steve Campbell, Albany (N.Y.) Times Union
- 2nd: Chuck Culpepper, Oregonian, Portland
- 3rd: Jenni Carlson, Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Charles Trentelman, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah
- 2nd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- 3rd: Rosemary Harris, Gazette, Colorado Springs
- Honorable Mention: Issac Bailey, Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bob Welch, Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.
- 2nd: Leslie Gray Streeter, York (Pa.) Dispatch
- 3rd: Ken Brown, Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa
- Honorable Mentions: John Gladden, Gazette, Medina, Ohio; Ronnie Virgets, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans
Business (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Maury Thompson, Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.
- 2nd: Walter Brasch, Spectrum Features Syndicate
- 3rd: Michael Lewis, Miami Today
Sports (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Ron Pollack, Pro Football Weekly
- 2nd: Jay Price, Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance
- 3rd: Cal Powell, Northwest Florida Daily News; Doug Robinson, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
- Honorable Mentions: John Boston, Signal, Valencia, Calif.; Lynn Zinser, Gazette, Colorado Springs; Peter Chianca, North Shore Sunday, Danvers, Mass.; Ralph Routon, Gazette, Colorado Springs
Online Columns
- 1st: Suz Redfearn, Baltimore City Paper
- 2nd: Susan Karlin, Reuters America, Los Angeles
- (No third place award)
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: L.T. Anderson, Charleston, W.V., Daily Mail
- 2nd: Paul Rolly and JoAnn Wells, Salt Lake Tribune
- 3rd: D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- Honorable Mention: Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News
2000 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Sue Shellenbarger, Wall Street Journal
- 2nd: Kate Gurnett, Albany (N.Y.) Times Union
- 3rd: Sean Kirst, Syracuse Newspapers
- Honorable Mention: Mary Barker, Monterey County (Calif.) Herald
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- 2nd: Andrea Peyser, New York Post
- 3rd: Bill Tammeus, Kansas City Star
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Don Surber, Charleston (W.V.) Daily Mail
- 2nd: Walter Jowers, Nashville Scene
- 3rd: Laura Putre, Cleveland Scene
- Honorable Mentions: Judy Johnson, Times of Acadiana, Lafayette, La.; John P. Young, Waco (Texas) Tribune
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: John Boston, Signal, Newhall, Calif.
- 2nd: Charles Trentelman, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah
- 3rd: David Chartrand, Sun, Olathe, Kansas
- Honorable Mention: Max Rizley Jr., Texas City Sun; Ronnie Virgets, Gambit, New Orleans
Online Columns
- 1st: Scott Bremner, GoErie.com, Erie, Pa.
- 2nd: Dave Lieber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- 3rd: “Bernie the Cockroach,” San Francisco Examiner
- Honorable Mention: Jim Kevlin, Pottsville (Pa.) Republican and Evening Herald
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: Walter M. Brasch, Spectrum Features Syndicate, Espy, Pa.
- 2nd: David Zinman, Horry (S.C.) Independent
- 3rd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
1999 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- 2nd: Donald Kaul, Des Moines (Iowa) Register
- 3rd: John Grogan, Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Honorable Mentions: Regina Brett, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal; Paul Turner, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Rick Shefchik, St. Paul Pioneer Press
- 2nd: Rick Steelhammer, Charleston (W.V.) Gazette
- 3rd: Bill Tammeus, Kansas City Star
- Honorable Mentions: Joe Blundo, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch; Andrea Peyser, New York Post
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Garret Mathews, Evansville (Ind.) Courier
- 2nd: Paul McPolin, Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance
- 3rd: Herb Benham, Bakersfield Californian
- Honorable Mentions: Nancy Nall, News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.; John Carberry, Batavia (N.Y.) Daily News; Rob Zaleski, Capital Times, Madison, Wis.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Nancy Nall, News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- 2nd: Joe Livernois, Monterey County (Calif.) Herald
- 3rd: Marty Levine, In Pittsburgh Weekly
- Honorable Mention: Debbie Farmer, syndicated, Antioch, Calif.
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 2nd: Laurel Wellman, San Francisco Weekly
- 3rd: John McCaslin, Washington (D.C.) Times
- Honorable Mentions: Jose Lambiet, Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle
1998 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Lindor Reynolds, Winnipeg Free Press
- 2nd: Michelle Malkin, Seattle Times
- 3rd: Adair Lara, San Francisco Chronicle
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: James Schembari, New York Times
- 2nd: Steve Clark, Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
- 3rd: Garret Mathews, Evansville (Ind.) Courier
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Mike Argento, York (Pa.) Daily Record
- 2nd: John Carberry, Batavia (N.Y.) Daily News
- 3rd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- Honorable Mentions: Melinda Ruley, Independent Weekly, Durham, N.C.; Elizabeth Trever Buchinger, Pensacola (Fla.) News-Journal
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: David McFarland, Pensacola (Fla.) News-Journal
- 2nd: P.S. Wall, syndicated
- 3rd: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- Honorable Mention: Jimmy Tomlin, High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
Herb Caen Memorial Award (notes/items)
- 1st: David Zinman, Horry (S.C.) Independent
- 2nd: Felix Winternitz, Cincinnati CityBeat
- 3rd: Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune
- Honorable Mentions: Toby McDaniel, State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.; D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
1997 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Barbara T. Roessner, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- 2nd: Tom Rademacher, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press
- 3rd: Roberta deBoer, Toledo (Ohio) Blade
- Honorable Mention: Laurie Roberts, Arizona Republic
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Dan Bernstein, Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif.
- 2nd: Mark Lane, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
- 3rd: Adair Lara, San Francisco Chronicle
- Honorable Mentions: John Grogan, Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Tom Rademacher, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press; Jennifer Dziura, Virginia Beach high school student
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Allan R. Andrews, Pacific Stars and Stripes
- 2nd: John Hutchinson, San Francisco Flier
- 3rd: Kim Gorman, St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press
- Honorable Mention: John Marren, Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: P.S. Wall, Crain Communications
- 2nd: Ken Dixon, Connecticut Post
- 3rd: Steven Slosberg, Day, New London, Conn.
- Honorable Mention: Dan Postrel, Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal
Notes/Items
- 1st: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 2nd: Lorrie Lynch, USA Weekend
- 3rd: Felix Winternitz, Cincinnati CityBeat
- Honorable Mention: Paul Facinelli, Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio
1996 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: William H. Rentschler, freelancer, Chicago
- 2nd: Charles Levendosky, Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyo.
- 3rd: Bob Hill, Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
- Honorable Mentions: James Schembari, New York Times; Suzanne Fields, Washington (D.C.) Times
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Regina Brett, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
- 2nd: Andrea Peyser, New York Post
- 3rd: Bob Hill, Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
- Honorable Mentions: Madeleine Begun Kane, self-syndicated, Bayside, N.Y.; Steve Clark, Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jeff McMahon, New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
- 2nd: Juliet Wittman, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
- 3rd: Karen Gulbranson, Soundings, Norfolk, Va.
- Honorable Mentions: Virginia Dean, Bankers News, Washington, D.C.; Silke Tudor, SF Weekly, San Francisco
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
- 2nd: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- 3rd: Ruth Ann Baker, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Honorable Mentions: Jane C. Musala, Beaver County (Pa.) Times; John P. Young, Waco (Texas) Tribune; Bret Kofford, Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, Calif.
Notes/Items
- 1st: Paul Facinelli, Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio
- 2nd: Walter M. Brasch, Spectrum Features Syndicate, Espy, Pa.
- 3rd: Diane Ketcham, New York Times
- Honorable Mentions: Jill Hamilton, Ann Arbor (Mich.) News; Bob Dyer, Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
1995 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Kathy Barberich, Fresno (Calif.) Bee
- 2nd: Jim Kershner, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: Jeff Rivers, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- Honorable Mentions: Lucille S. deView, Orange County (Calif.) Register; Mark Lane, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal; Terry Marotta, Ravenscroft Press, Massachusetts
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Melissa Balmain, Orange County (Calif.) Register
- 2nd: Roger Simon, Sun, Baltimore
- 3rd: Margery Eliscu, Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland
- Honorable Mentions: Doug Clark, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.; Steve Clark, Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Dave Lieber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- 2nd: Jeff McMahon, New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
- 3rd: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- Honorable Mention: Walter M. Brasch, Spectrum Features Syndicate, Espy, Pa.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Karen Gulbranson, Write Way Communications, Virginia Beach
- 2nd: Phil Smith, Times Union, Warsaw, Ind.
- 3rd: Doug Kim, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
- Honorable Mention: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Notes/Items
- 1st: Kate Nelson, Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
- 2nd: Walter M. Brasch, Spectrum Features Syndicate, Espy, Pa.
- 3rd: Paul Facinelli, Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio
1994 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jonathan Nicholas, Oregonian, Portland
- 2nd: Diane Ketcham, New York Times
- 3rd: Jeff Rivers, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- Honorable Mention: Joe Mullich, Mullich Communications, Norristown, Pa.
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Diane Aprile, Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
- 2nd: Jim Kershner, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: David Grimes, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune
- Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Nicholas, Oregonian, Portland; Rosemary Parrillo, Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, N.J.
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Rose Post, Salisbury (N.C.) Post
- 2nd: Ken Dixon, Connecticut Post
- 3rd: Tim Chitwood, Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer
- Honorable Mentions: George Hesselberg, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison; Steve Kloehn, Bangor (Maine) Daily News; Adrienne T. Washington, Washington (D.C.) Times
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Joe Pisani, Greenwich (Conn.) Time
- 2nd: Stan Sinberg, Marin (Calif.) Independent Journal
- 3rd: Bill Campbell, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach
- Honorable Mention: Jane C. Musala, Beaver County (Pa.) Times
Notes/Items
- 1st: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- 2nd: Smiley Anders, Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 3rd: Sam Venable, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel
1993 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Susan M. Barbieri, Orlando Sentinel
- 2nd: Diane Ketcham, New York Times
- 3rd: Kevin Simpson, Denver Post
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jeffrey Zaslow, Chicago Sun-Times
- 2nd: Joe Urschel, USA Today
- 3rd: Colin McEnroe, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
- Honorable Mention: Bruce Taylor Seeman, Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Juliet Wittman, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
- 2nd: George Hesselberg, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison
- 3rd: Joe Pisani, Greenwich (Conn.) Time
- Honorable Mention: Clayton Hardiman, Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Charles Memminger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- 2nd: Tom Dalton, Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass.
- 3rd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Garret Mathews, Evansville (Ind.) Courier
Notes/Items
- 1st: Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle
- 2nd: Kate Nelson, Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
- 3rd: D.F. Oliveria, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- Honorable Mention: Rick Bonino, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
1992 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Curtis Austin, Dallas Times Herald
- 2nd: Doug Clark, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: Judith Newmark, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Honorable Mentions: Bill McClellan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Susan Campbell, Hartford (Conn.) Courant; C.R. Roberts, Morning News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
Humor (newspapers over 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Tony Gabriele, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.
- 2nd: Jim Kershner, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- 3rd: E.J. Montini, Arizona Republic
- Honorable Mentions: Rosemary Parrillo, Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Dan Bernstein, Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif.
General Interest (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Suzanne Fields, Washington (D.C.) Times
- 2nd: Lynn Bartels, Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
- 3rd: Steven Slosberg, Day, New London, Conn.
Humor (newspapers under 100,000 circulation)
- 1st: Steven Slosberg, Day, New London, Conn.
- 2nd: Jane C. Musala, Beaver County (Pa.) Times
- 3rd: Nancy Nall, News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Notes/Items
- 1st: Bill Tammeus, Kansas City Star
- 2nd: Diane Ketcham, New York Times
- 3rd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Kate Nelson, Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
1991 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 75,000 circulation)
- 1st: Amy Pagnozzi, New York Post
- 2nd: Carol Mueller, St. Paul Pioneer Press
- 3rd: Rick Anderson, Seattle Times
- Honorable Mentions: Tom Dennis, Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune; and Dan Rodricks, Evening Sun, Baltimore
Humor (newspapers over 75,000 circulation)
- 1st: Doug Robarchek, Charlotte (N.C.) Observer
- 2nd: Bob Morris, Orlando Sentinel
- 3rd: Jim Kershner, Spokesman-Review/Spokane Chronicle, Spokane, Wash.
- Honorable Mentions: Erik Lacitis, Seattle Times; Peter Leo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Colin McEnroe, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
General Interest (newspapers under 75,000 circulation)
- 1st: Clayton Hardiman, Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle
- 2nd: Pat Brockenborough, Paducah (Ky.) Sun
- 3rd: Charles Levendosky, Star Tribune, Casper, Wyo.
- Honorable Mentions: Peter Genovese, Central Jersey Home News; Kathryn Hutson, Daily Tribune, Royal Oak, Mich.; and Mary Ann Lindley, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat
Humor (newspapers under 75,000 circulation)
- 1st: Lynn Bartels, Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
- 2nd: Jerry Zezima, Advocate, Stamford, Conn.
- 3rd: Mike Henderson, Herald, Everett, Wash.
Notes/Items
- 1st: Doug Robarchek, Charlotte (N.C.) Observer
- 2nd: Mike Deupree, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
- 3rd: Frank DiGiacomo and Timothy McDarrah, New York Post
1990 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Rick Horowitz, Creators Syndicate
- 2nd: Elise T. Chisolm, Sun, Baltimore
- 3rd: Jim Kershner, Spokesman-Review/Spokane Chronicle, Spokane, Wash.
- Honorable Mentions: Wiley Hall III, Sun, Baltimore; and Roger Simon, Sun, Baltimore
Humor (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Jonathan Nicholas, Oregonian, Portland
- 2nd: Dale McFeatters, Scripps Howard News Service
- 3rd: Tony Gabriele, Daily Press/Times-Herald, Newport News, Va.
- Honorable Mentions: Rick Horowitz, Creators Syndicate; Leola Floren, Daily Tribune, Royal Oak, Mich.
General Interest (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Marsha McCabe, Standard-Times, New Bedford, Mass.
- 2nd: Steven Slosberg, Day, New London, Conn.
- 3rd: Nancy Schlessinger, Times-Advocate, Escondido, Calif.
- Honorable Mentions: Tommy Stevenson, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News; and Nancy Nall, News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Humor (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Bill Harlan, Rapid City (S.D.) Journal
- 2nd: Joe Miller, Dallas Business Journal
- 3rd: Andrew Heller, Saginaw (Mich.) News
- Honorable Mentions: Joe Karius, Rapid City (S.D.) Journal; Barbara Naness, Staten Island (N.Y.) Register; and Garret Mathews, Evansville (Ind.) Courier
Notes/Items
- 1st: John Elvin, Washington (D.C.) Times
- 2nd: Lawrence Maddry, Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk
- 3rd: Mary Ann Lindley, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat
- Honorable Mentions: Diane Ketcham, New York Times; and Jonathan Nicholas, Oregonian, Portland
1989 Winners – not available in the NSNC archives
1988 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Ralph Seeley, News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
- 2nd: Barbara Green, Richmond (Va.) News Leader
- 3rd: Bill Brower, Blade, Toledo, Ohio
- Honorable Mention: Denis Horgan, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
Humor (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Sam Lowe, Phoenix Gazette
- 2nd: Sam Venable, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel
- 3rd: Tom Hritz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Honorable Mentions: Martha Gross, News/Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Robert R. Haggart, Post-Standard, Syracuse, N.Y.
General Interest (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Nancy Nall, News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- 2nd: Mitch Mendelson, Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald
- 3rd: Ralph Martin, Knickerbocker News, Albany, N.Y.
Humor (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Dan Ehl, Newton (Iowa) Daily News
- 2nd: Jim Kershner, Valley Daily News, Kent, Wash.
- 3rd: Byron Smialek, Observer-Reporter, Washington, Pa.
Notes/Items
- 1st: Diane Ketcham, New York Times
- 2nd: Paul Harasim, Houston Post
- 3rd: Glenn Scott, Modesto (Calif.) Bee
1987 Winners – not available in the NSNC archives
1986 Winners
General Interest (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Mike Harden, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
- 2nd: Dick Dougherty, Times-Union, Rochester, N.Y.
- 3rd: Jill Porter, Philadelphia Daily News
- Honorable Mentions: Ron Bianchi, Arizona Spirit, Phoenix; Gary Galloway, Gary (Ind.) Post-Tribune; and Lawrence Wade, Washington (D.C.) Times
Humor (newspapers over 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Gordon Dillow, Los Angeles Herald Examiner
- 2nd: Bob Hill, Louisville (Ky.) Times
- 3rd: Roger Simon, Sun, Baltimore
- Honorable Mentions: Robert Chipkin, Springfield (Mass.) Republican; and John Windrow, Stars and Stripes
General Interest (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Michael Doll, Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, N.Y.
- 2nd: Marsha McCabe, Standard-Times, New Bedford, Mass.
- 3rd: Roger Clawson, Billings (Mont.) Gazette
- Honorable Mention: Thom Loverro, Howard County Sun, Ellicott City, Md.
Humor (newspapers under 65,000 circulation)
- 1st: Sid McKeen, Worcester (Mass.) Telegram
- 2nd: John Phipps, Saginaw (Mich.) News
- 3rd: Jeff O’Brien, Daily American, Somerset, Pa.
- Honorable Mentions: Jim DeFilippi, Burlington (Vt.) Free Press; Howard Hall, Bradenton (Fla.) Herald; and Jim Stasiowski, Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
“Bits and Pieces”
- 1st: Smiley Anders, Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
- 2nd: Jack Willey, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
- 3rd: Barney Fowler, Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
1985 and Earlier Winners – not available in the NSNC archives
Winners and finalists of the NSNC Column Contest from missing years will be posted as their documentation is found. It may take a while. Please check back. Research: Archivist Dave Astor.
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