The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 Annual Columnist Contest. The contest will officially kick off on January 15 and run through April 17, 2026.
“We are accepting entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists for work published in 2025. Everyone is welcome to submit. You don’t have to be an NSNC member to enter. However, you can save on entry fees by becoming an NSNC member,” said Meredith Cummings, president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
Entry fees are $30 for NSNC members and $60 for non-members; join NSNC (membership $75 – join here) and entry fee is $30. Student entry fee is $15, no membership required. (Must have been a student during 2025.)
This year’s contest categories include:
A. General Interest – Print
This category includes columns published in print on subjects including human interest, politics, criticism, analysis, reportage, etc. (except humor, sports, lifestyles). “Items” columns, comprised of short takes, are welcome. Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials and the like are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications.
B. General Interest – General Interest – Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category includes ONLINE ONLY columns on subjects including human interest, politics, criticism, analysis, reportage, etc. (except humor, sports, lifestyles). “Items” columns, comprised of short takes, are welcome. This category is not intended for work that was initially printed and then published online, as is common with many newspapers. Thus, columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are NOT acceptable. Unsigned editorials and the like are NOT acceptable.
This category is for entries from two main fields: 1) Online editions of print publications where the publication was an “online-only” publication, including aggregator sites, commercial and nonprofit media websites and portals, and so forth; and 2) individuals’ personal websites, independent blogs, small-group online journals, community or hyperlocal journalism sites, social media accounts, etc.
C. Humor – Print
This category includes columns published in print – broad-based humor, including columns intended to entertain as well as general or specialty columns that heavily use wit. “Items” or humor columns comprised of short-takes are welcome. Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials and the like are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications, regardless of circulation size.
D. Humor – Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category includes ONLINE ONLY columns with broad-based humor, including columns intended to entertain as well as general or specialty columns that heavily use wit. “Items” or humor columns comprised of short-takes are welcome. This category is not intended for work that was initially printed and then published online, as is common with many newspapers. Thus, columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are NOT acceptable. Unsigned editorials and the like are NOT acceptable.
This category is for entries from two main fields: 1) Online editions of print publications where the publication was an “online-only” publication, including aggregator sites, commercial and nonprofit media websites and portals, and so forth; and 2) individuals’ personal websites, independent blogs, small-group online journals, community or hyperlocal journalism sites, social media accounts, etc.
E. Sports – Print and/or Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category is for sports columns appearing in print and/or online. Columns in this category take readers beyond facts and stats and deliver commentary through player profiles, performance opinions, analysis of trends, or more controversial issues (e.g., concussions in football, taxpayer funded stadiums, steroid use, etc.). Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications, regardless of circulation size as well as all online publications (including multimedia or digital content).
F. Lifestyles – Print and/or Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category is for lifestyle columns appearing in print and/or online. Columns in this category typically include entertainment, health, technology, family/parenting, profiles, reviews, and more. Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications, regardless of circulation as well as all online publications (including multimedia or digital content).
H. Crisis Commentary – Print and/or Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category is for columns appearing in print and/or online with a focus on crisis commentary. Crisis columns may include commentary on disasters and other events that critically alter the regular order of the daily lives of an individual, group or community. Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications, regardless of circulation as well as all online publications (including multimedia or digital content).
I. Social Justice Commentary – Print and/or Online/Multimedia/Digital Content
This category is for social justice columns appearing in print and/or online. According to the United Nations, “Social justice may be broadly understood as the fair and compassionate distribution of the fruits of economic growth.” Columns in this category offer commentary on social justice issues related to education, economics, housing, etc. in the contexts of equal opportunities, rights, and treatment. Columns posted online simultaneously or after print publication are acceptable. Unsigned editorials are NOT acceptable. This category is for entries from all printed periodicals, including weeklies, magazines and specialty publications, regardless of circulation as well as all online publications (including multimedia or digital content).
Columnists can enter work in multiple categories.
Awards will include First, Second, and Third Place, and Honorable Mention. Certificates will be issued to winning columnists. To enter the contest, click here.
For questions regarding the contest, please contact Joanne Brokaw, contest chair, at joannebrokaw@gmail.com. Please put “NSNC contest inquiry” in the subject line. To see a list of our past contest winners, click here.
About National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC)
The National Society of Newspaper Columnists is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of California. The NSNC promotes professionalism and camaraderie among columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers. NSNC advocates for columnists and free-press issues. Connect with NSNC online at www.columnists.com.
