The National Society of Newspaper Columnists was founded in 1977 and exists to promote professionalism and camaraderie among North American newspaper columnists. Membership is open to general interest, humor, op-ed, online, or other newspaper columnists. Academics and student columnists also are eligible to join. The annual conference is NSNC's primary event. The group also publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, maintains this website and advocates for columnists and free-press issues. New members are welcome - please join us!
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Gov. Sarah Palin receives Sitting Duck Award
Sarah Palin, Republican Vice Presidential nominee in the 2008 Presidential Election, was voted this year's winner of the Sitting Duck Award at the NSNC Annual Conference in Ventura, California. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won for showing it's hard to put your best foot
forward when it's in your mouth. Gov. Palin, nominated by Cynthia Borris, was the subject of much light-hearted commentary, an easy target for criticism during the election. This is the person to whom columnists have turned in the last twelve months when he or she is desperate for a topic and has to meet a deadline.
Runner-up is former Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich, for his vigorous hair, his vigorous public defense against abuse-of-office charges and his vigorous post-impeachment celebrity-hood. Who knows where reality shows end and reality begins?? Blagojevich was nominated by Robert Haught.
The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) created the Sitting Duck Award, an honor bestowed each year on the crème de la crème of the most ridiculed newsmakers in America. A time-honored tradition within the Society, the award provides columnists with the opportunity to give back to those public figures who have given so much to the newspaper media, and yet asked for so little in return.
The award’s title originates from the fact that these figures are easy targets — sitting ducks. The award may be given to a person, animal, group or thing, but the point is to poke a little fun.
Conference Wrapup - Embracing Change to Survive and Thrive
The NSNC Conference has ended and only the memories remain, memories of new friends and old, memories of great speakers, memories of a seaside city and all that we learned about embracing the changing times and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by change.
Columnists came from all over the country, and even from other countries, to listen, to network, and to learn how to survive and thrive in a time of economic hardship --- being cockroaches, Robert Niles called it, surviving in spite of everything the economy has to throw at us.
We learned how to exploit the new media. We heard about FaceBook, Twitter, and how new media tools can be utilized to help us advance our professional careers. It used to be easier, we were told. But now we must be masters of multi-media, become entrepreneurs.
The atmosphere was charged with optimism and with the recognition that writers have skills that can be marketed in places other than newspapers. From a time when we thought that we might not even have a conference this year, to seeing 127 people walk through the doors -- it was an exhilarating trip.
Ventura welcomed us. We walked by the ocean and dug our toes into the sand. We had wine in the courtyard of a historic old stucco mission. We walked the vintage streets and looked in the windows of shops awakening to a second life.
And the speakers, the speakers, how we loved the conference speakers. We cried as Jeff Zaslow recounted the story of writing a book with a dying college professor. We were filled with distress as we heard about the mental illness of a homeless musician from Steve Lopez. We laughed with Jon Carroll as he joked about feeling like a blacksmith in a room of internet technicians. And between these were more, so many more that we continue to have flashbacks as we try to digest it all.
We came back home refreshed and renewed, notebooks stuffed, heads throbbing with ideas, ready to make to most of our new knowledge to help ourselves and to keep going, keep writing, and keep finding ways to utilize our columnist skills in new ways.
By Sheila Moss
NSNC WebEditor
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Jon Carroll receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Jon Carroll was the recepient of the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his achievement of over 30 years in a writing career. In accepting the award, Carroll said that what people often don't realize is that writing is hard work. But, whether we are compensated or not, we do it anyway because we love it. There are two kinds of writers, he said, those that write to expose corruption and make the world a better place and those that love to write. He is the latter.
Internet writers write opinions. Carroll likes to write stories. On media such as Twitter, people write what is happening, but there is no one to explain what it means. It is without context. Columnists have an obligation to be bold and to risk being wrong. We need columnists because they are invested in the quality of writing.
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Winners of Column Writing Contest Announced
The winners of the annual NSNC Column-Writing Contest were announced in Ventura on Saturday evening, June 27th, at the dinner. To read a complete list of the winners, go to the CONTEST page.
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Jonathan Nicholas receives 2009 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award
Jonathan Nicholas, an Oregon newspaper columnist who founded a program that bridged the divide between rural and urban areas of his state and produced benefits to thousands of citizens, is this year’s winner of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award.
Nicholas received the prestigious award at the 33rd annual conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in Ventura, Calif., on Friday, June 26. James Rogers, a great-grandson of the popular humorist-philosopher of the 1930’s, made the presentation.
John L. Blackwell, former chair of the Oregon Park Commission, nominated Nicholas for his achievement as the founder of "Cycle Oregon", an annual week-long event which attracts participants from all around the world. Proceeds from rider donations and other sources go into a fund to help economically challenged communities through charitable grants.
The NSNC welcomed Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle, an icon in the newspaper industry, who has written for newspapers and magazines since the age of 21. He believes you can only write about yourself and what you know. Will people "get it?" Don’t worry about that, he advised, don’t censor yourself.
People learned how to use the internet in 1987, prior to the world wide web. They used bulletin boards and learned to communicate in conversations. Newspapers did not understand the potential of the web. They had content and could have been innovators, but they considered the net a rival and are now trying to catch up.
Where do you get ideas? Everybody has a story, Carroll advises. Let them tell it. The human connection is what people like. Give someone else the good lines. Grow old gracefully; write about your own life or the problems of aging. The same things happen to other people. Be of use to them.
Carroll calls it an honor and a privilege to be a columnist. Just write. Follow the flow of the columns and you may find a better ending than what you planned.
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Jeff Zaslow of Wall Street Journal is Friday's Dinner Speaker
Friday's dinner speaker was Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal. Zaslow spoke on one of his most famous columns that was written about Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon Professor, who died of cancer, and his "last lecture." Zaslow was impressed by Pausch and drove 300 miles to hear his lecture. The column and video of the lecture created an internet sensation and eventually led to a book, "The Last Lecture."
Zaslow set out to write stories from Pausch's life that would honor his life. Pausch believed that it was important to realize his dreams, and that we cannot change the cards dealt to us -- just how we play the hand. He believed it is not the things we do that we regret, but the things we don't do.
Zaslow advises columnists to get out and find great stories to tell. "Don't tell people how to live their lives -- tell stories and they will figure out how it applies to them."
Prior to dinner, James Rogers, direct descendant of Will Rogers, presented the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award to this year's winner, Jonathan Nicholas, a past NSNC president who raised charitable dollers with a bicycle riding campaign.
The dinner was sponsored by Western States Petroleum Association following a reception sponsored by the Limoneira Company. Earlier in the day, Joe Sparano, President of Western States Petroleum spoke on energy issues and presented facts regarding the petroleum industry.
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Steve Lopez at Ventura Conference
Steve Lopez spoke about column writing and his columns about Nathanial Ayers, a homeless musician in LA. Ayers story became a book and the basis of a major motion picture, The Soloist.
Columnists cannot compete with opinion, says Lopez. There are too many opinions out there in 140 characters or less. Learn to write with your ears, he advises, write with rhythm. Write and rewrite. Write and rewrite. Write and rewrite. Find out who you are. People should be able to recognize your columns without a byline by your "voice." Figure out your mission as a columnist, or you will never be any good.
Lopez grew up in Pittsburgh CA. His dad was filled with outrage, hostility, and wanted social justice. He is his dad, he says. "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted" became his purpose. The columns about Ayers were a way to address the issues of homelessness and mental illness, to humanize and desensitize the issue.
We will survive as columnists, Lopez believes. We must keep shooting until we run out of bullets.
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Rick Newcomb, Creators Syndicate speaks to Conference
Rick Newcombe. President of Creators Syndicate spoke to NSNC regarding syndication opportunities. Changes are happening so fast that it is frightening -- but also exhilarating. We must take advantage of opportunities offered by new media.
If interested in submitting to Creators Syndicate, go to http://www.creators.com and read the "How to Submit" guidelines. Creators is a "hybrid, like a literary agency and a book publisher. They edit, distribute and collect payment for content providers.
Having a pre-existing audience helps one in becoming syndicated . Media still needs content, regardless of the decline in the news industry. Buying syndicated material is usually cheaper. Creators lets individual content providers keep rights to their content, an innovative move in syndication. They offer long-term contacts.
Newcombe says columnists have many more opportunities now with new media and he takes an optimistic view toward the industry. Due to the current collapse in the news industry, he is moving toward providing content to the new media outlets..
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Conference kick off in Ventura
The NSNC conference was opened by President Samantha Bennett. Dave Astor led a pannel discussion on survival saying the news industry is "between a rock and a hard drive." Columnists are turning to blogging, but the challenge for bloggers is getting paid. Nowadays, columnists must be able to edit, know about fair use law, be able to self-edit and have skills beyond just writing. Columnists are expected to do more things: Use multi-media, twitter, use video, be on boards, and write editorials,. The major problem in difficult times is how to be paid for online work. Many are giving away content which is detrimental to being paid. Young people say there is "too much news in newspapers." It is difficult to meet the needs of everyone as people have different needs. In conclusion, content is still king, but we must learn to operate in all media.
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NSNC Board of Directors meets in Ventura
The NSNC Board of Directors met in Ventura on Thursday, prior to the annual conference. The Board was excited to learn that 127 people are attending the Conference, including registered members and non-members, day passes, local attendees, registered guests, and speakers. This is a wonderful turnout in a time of economic difficulty both in the news industry and the nation.
The Board discussed expanding our presence on the Internet to include a Facebook page and YouTube. Look for further developments on these projects. Other matters discussed were how to embrace other groups to encourage more diversity in the group and creation of a committee to consider a long-range plan for the future of the organization.
The student scholarship was discussed and ways to better promote it to create additional interest. The NSNC Archives continue to grow, and ways to digitize them were considered. The Board also received a report from Mike Leonard regarding next year's conference and the plans already underway for 2010 in Bloomington, Indiana.
Several board positions are up for re-election and there were some resignations as well. These positions will be filled at the regular membership meeting on Sunday morning following the conference. Additional details of the board meeting will be forth coming when the minutes of the meeting are available.
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Columnists arrive in Ventura
Several columnists arrived early in Ventura and were seen out and about getting to know the city and looking for things to write about. Ventura is a tourist and vacation spot where it is hard to avoid heading straight for the beach. NSNC WebEditor Sheila Moss headed there to visit the historic pier in Ventura and enjoy a seafood dinner. The weather on Wednesday was clear and beautiful, with a cool breeze blowing off the ocean. California scenery is breathtaking.
Members are expected to be pouring in all day on Thursday with time for a bit of fun in the morning before business begins with the Board Meeting at 2:00 pm followed by a welcoming reception Thursday evening sponsored by downtown merchants and the Ventura City Council in the courtyard of the historic Mission San Buenaventura.
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Twittering the Conference at #NSNC
To read the tweets, go to search.twitter.com To add your own comments, go to http://twitter.com. (You will need to have or create an account to participate.) Put #NSNC at the end of your post.
Don't twitter? Check out our NSNC Discussions list. Members can join to post longer comments about the conference. All posts on the NSNC Discussion list are public.
Well-traveled Columnist Is NSNC Scholarship Top Winner
Paul Bowers, who has just completed his sophomore year at the University of South Carolina, is the first-place winner of this year's NSNC college journalism student scholarship. He was awarded the $1,000 scholarship at the annual NSNC conference in Ventura, Calif., June 25-28, 2009.
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, serving as final judge of the nationwide competition, picked Bowers, saying: "At a young age, he is already well on his way to meeting a standard only the best columnists ever reach."
She awarded second place, and a $500 scholarship, to Amy Hanoa of the University of California at Berkeley, Calif., and third place, with a $250 scholarship, to S. P. Sullivan of the University of Massachusetts.
This is not the first big win for Bowers, a print journalism major from Charleston, S.C. In March he was chosen by Nicholas Kristoff of the New York Times, another Pulitzer Prize winner, to accompany him on a trip to study poverty in Africa.
His writing career started in middle school writing columns for the Charleston Post and Courier's "ink" section for students. Bowers was editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper in Summerville, a Charleston suburb, and served in various positions at the University of South Carolina student newspaper, The Daily Gamecock.
The scholarship program is sponsored by the NSNC Education Foundation, a non-profit organization. Contributions to support the program are tax deductible.
NSNC Education Chair Russell Frank directs the annual college student writing contest to determine the winners.
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New NSNC Officers elected
The following officers were elected at the annual general membership meeting on Sunday morning, June 28, 2009, at the NSNC annual conference in Ventura, CA. The first five offices are for two-year terms. The Conference Chair term is for one year.
Ben Pollock, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Secretary (incumbent) Laura Snyder, self-syndicated, Pinehurst, NC, Treasurer Dan St. Yves, eVent Magazine, Calgary, AB, Membership Chair (incumbent) Cynthia Borris, Valley Lifestyles Magazine, San Lorenzo, CA, Contest Chair Dave Astor, Montclair (NJ) Times, Archivist Mike Leonard, Bloomington (IN) Herald-Times, 2010 Conference Chair
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Gala Receptions for Conference Attendees
By Bill Nash Ventura County Star
Conference Chair
On Thursday evening, downtown merchants and the Ventura City Council welcomed us with a cocktail reception in the courtyard of the historic Mission San Buenaventura. This is the last of the California missions personally opened by Father Junipero Serra. The courtyard features a beautiful mosaic fountain, nicely manicured lawns and is surrounded by mission buildings. City Councilman Brian Brennan will welcomed us to Ventura.
Sponsors of the Thursday welcoming reception are: Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau, the Downtown Ventura Organization, and Ventura County Reporter.
Another reception was sponsored by the Limoneira Company. The company was founded in 1893 as a citrus farming business. An innovative, progressive company, Limoneira has now grown into a global business with more than 7,000 acres in the agricultural production of lemons, avocados, oranges, pistachios and cherries. They are also committed to community building, agricultural sustainability and other green measures, solar energy and land development. Their reception featured some special drinks using their citrus products.
We wish to thank all of the sponsors who have given their support to the conference.
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Conference Speaker Robert Niles Says Journalism Isn't Doomed
Ben Pollock posted a Robert Niles column on the NSNC discussion group Web site in which the former editor of Online Journalism Review (OJR) said: "Journalism is not doomed; people can make money publishing online."
"All that needs to change to make that happen is journalists' toxic attitudes toward themselves and the value of their work," says Niles. "For a generation, journalists have been steeped in a culture of failure."
Writers attending the NSNC conference in Ventura, CA saw and heard Robert Niles in person. He was one of several professional development workshop speakers on the program.
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Pilot Sullenberger selects Zaslow to co-author his book
Hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has selected a bestselling co-author Jeffrey Zaslow to tell his story in two books to be published by William Morrow. Sullenberger, the US Airways pilot who landed his airplane in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, saving all 155 people on board, will recount his life experience in the book coming out this year. Sullenberger's book, called Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, is scheduled to be published Dec. 1.
Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal, is a long-time member of NSNC and a former winner of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award.
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Steve Lopez on 60 Minutes
LA Times columnist Steve Lopez, Keynote Speaker for the 2009 NSNC Conference in Ventura, Calif., June 25-28, was interviewed by 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer about his book, "The Soloist" - a major motion picture opening April 24.
2010 Conference at Indiana University - Bloomington
Next year’s NSNC conference site will be Indiana University at Bloomington. Our conference host will be Mike Leonard, of the Bloomington Herald-Times, a past president and current member of the NSNC board. “I’ve always thought that this is a great place for a conference and I hope that’s not just provincialism.” Mike told the board.
Indiana University, where Ernie Pyle was once a student, boasts great traditions, a gorgeous campus, Big Ten sports, and a famous School of Journalism where students learn journalism basics and associated skills that prepare them for media careers. The name of Pyle graces the building in which the School of Journalism is housed.
The university would provide a different setting for a conference. “IU-Bloomington is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, there are so many resources here, from the Kinsey Institute to the School of Journalism (located in Ernie Pyle Hall) to any number of things not university-related.” Leonard noted.
Various university officials have shown enthusiasm about bringing in NSNC and have offered their support. Leonard suggested staying on campus at the hotel in the Biddle Hotel and Conference Center at Indiana Memorial Union. “It looks like a sprawling castle, made of limestone as is most of the IU campus, a 500,000 sq. ft. building.” The hotel offers 189 overnight guest accommodations and is located at the heart of the campus.
The best date available with both meeting and hotel space available for a three to four day conference is June 3-6, 2010. Additional details will be forthcoming and more information announced as it becomes available.
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Wanted: Future Conference Hosts
The NSNC Board of Directors is accepting bids for future conferences. If you think you would like to host the annual meeting in 2011 or 2012, step right up. But first, know what the job entails.
Under the NSNC bylaws, the conference chair is an elective position, serving a one-year term. By practice, some conferences have had co-chairs, both of whom are members of the board.
The conference chair is responsible for locating a site with convention facilities, or otherwise capable of holding a meeting of up to 200, including members, guests and speakers. Members of the NSNC board and others may assist with development of the program, but it is desirable that the conference chair have an idea for a theme and a proposed outline of potential speakers and activities.
A key requirement is that the conference chair provide a plan for financing the conference. Registration fees produce only a portion of the cost. The remainder must come from sponsorships in the form of grants, donations, contributions, revenues from program book ad sales, and other sources. For 2011 and 2012 conferences, recommendations from the general membership will be accepted.
Anyone who seriously wants to undertake these responsibilities and has the energy and enthusiasm to produce a successful conference should send an indication of interest via e-mail to director@columnists.com and be prepared to follow up with a detailed proposal by mail to NSNC, PO Box 411532, San Francisco, CA 94141.
The NSNC board also solicits ideas and suggestions regarding the future of the society in light of present conditions in the field of journalism with newspapers changing so fast and with the national economy placing pressure on all non-profit groups such as ours. A future newsletter article will summarize the responses.
National Society of Newspaper Columnists
P.O. Box 411532
San Francisco, CA 94141
Phone: toll free (866) 440-NSNC (6762) / Fax: toll free (866) 635-5759
Sarah Palin, Republican Vice Presidential nominee in the 2008 Presidential Election, was voted this year's winner of the Sitting Duck Award at the NSNC Annual Conference in Ventura, California. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won for showing it's hard to put your best foot
The NSNC Conference has ended and only the memories remain, memories of new friends and old, memories of great speakers, memories of a seaside city and all that we learned about embracing the changing times and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by change.
And the speakers, the speakers, how we loved the conference speakers. We cried as Jeff Zaslow recounted the story of writing a book with a dying college professor. We were filled with distress as we heard about the mental illness of a homeless musician from Steve Lopez. We laughed with Jon Carroll as he joked about feeling like a blacksmith in a room of internet technicians. And between these were more, so many more that we continue to have flashbacks as we try to digest it all.
Jon Carroll was the recepient of the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his achievement of over 30 years in a writing career. In accepting the award, Carroll said that what people often don't realize is that writing is hard work. But, whether we are compensated or not, we do it anyway because we love it. There are two kinds of writers, he said, those that write to expose corruption and make the world a better place and those that love to write. He is the latter. 
The winners of the annual NSNC Column-Writing Contest were announced in Ventura on Saturday evening, June 27th, at the dinner. To read a complete list of the winners, go to the 
Jonathan Nicholas, an Oregon newspaper columnist who founded a program that bridged the divide between rural and urban areas of his state and produced benefits to thousands of citizens, is this year’s winner of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award.
Friday's dinner speaker was Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal. Zaslow spoke on one of his most famous columns that was written about Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon Professor, who died of cancer, and his "last lecture." Zaslow was impressed by Pausch and drove 300 miles to hear his lecture. The column and video of the lecture created an internet sensation and eventually led to a book, "The Last Lecture." 
Prior to dinner, James Rogers, direct descendant of Will Rogers, presented the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award to this year's winner, Jonathan Nicholas, a past NSNC president who raised charitable dollers with a bicycle riding campaign.
Steve Lopez spoke about column writing and his columns about Nathanial Ayers, a homeless musician in LA. Ayers story became a book and the basis of a major motion picture, The Soloist. 
Rick Newcombe. President of Creators Syndicate spoke to NSNC regarding syndication opportunities. Changes are happening so fast that it is frightening -- but also exhilarating. We must take advantage of opportunities offered by new media. 
The NSNC conference was opened by President Samantha Bennett. Dave Astor led a pannel discussion on survival saying the news industry is "between a rock and a hard drive." Columnists are turning to blogging, but the challenge for bloggers is getting paid. Nowadays, columnists must be able to edit, know about fair use law, be able to self-edit and have skills beyond just writing. Columnists are expected to do more things: Use multi-media, twitter, use video, be on boards, and write editorials,. The major problem in difficult times is how to be paid for online work. Many are giving away content which is detrimental to being paid. Young people say there is "too much news in newspapers." It is difficult to meet the needs of everyone as people have different needs. In conclusion, content is still king, but we must learn to operate in all media.
Several columnists arrived early in Ventura and were seen out and about getting to know the city and looking for things to write about. Ventura is a tourist and vacation spot where it is hard to avoid heading straight for the beach. NSNC WebEditor Sheila Moss headed there to visit the historic pier in Ventura and enjoy a seafood dinner. The weather on Wednesday was clear and beautiful, with a cool breeze blowing off the ocean. California scenery is breathtaking.
Paul Bowers, who has just completed his sophomore year at the University of South Carolina, is the first-place winner of this year's NSNC college journalism student scholarship. He was awarded the $1,000 scholarship at the annual NSNC conference in Ventura, Calif., June 25-28, 2009.
Another reception was sponsored by the Limoneira Company. The company was founded in 1893 as a citrus farming business. An innovative, progressive company, Limoneira has now grown into a global business with more than 7,000 acres in the agricultural production of lemons, avocados, oranges, pistachios and cherries. They are also committed to community building, agricultural sustainability and other green measures, solar energy and land development. Their reception featured some special drinks using their citrus products. 
Ben Pollock posted a Robert Niles column on the NSNC discussion group Web site in which the former editor of Online Journalism Review (OJR) said: "Journalism is not doomed; people can make money publishing online."
Steve Lopez on 60 Minutes
Next year’s NSNC conference site will be Indiana University at Bloomington. Our conference host will be Mike Leonard, of the Bloomington Herald-Times, a past president and current member of the NSNC board. “I’ve always thought that this is a great place for a conference and I hope that’s not just provincialism.” Mike told the board. 
