NSNC 2026 Columnist Contest - Now Open

Sunshine Week March 15-21, 2026

Consider a Gift to the NSNC Education Foundation

Join NSNC and Reap the Benefits!

NSNC 2026 Columnist Contest - Now Open

Contest submissions now open! We are accepting entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists  for our 2026 Annual Columnist Contest (for work published in 2025). We will accept entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists published in 2025.  Everyone is welcome to submit. You don’t have to be an NSNC member.

Sunshine Week March 15-21, 2026

We’re counting down to #SunshineWeek 2026, March 15-21. Together, we champion #OpenRecords and #OpenGovernment nationwide March 15-21. #FOIA #transparency. Free resources: sunshineweek.org

Consider a Gift to the NSNC Education Foundation

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists Education Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization [501(c)3] devoted to the education and training of new and experienced columnists everywhere. Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NSNCEdFnd

Join NSNC and Reap the Benefits!

We are excited for What’s in-store for NSNC members this year. We are gearing up to launch the NSNC Annual Columnist Contest on January 15, so you’ll want to be sure your membership is up-to-date. Also, if you have ideas, suggestions, etc., please share them with our President Meredith Cummings at meredithcummings@gmail.com or Executive Director Ginny McCabe at nsncdirector@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of NSNC!

Give a little to get a lot

By Suzette Martinez Standring NSNC Past President “Give a little to get a lot.” I never forgot this memorable advice from Mary McCarty of the Dayton Daily News, who has won awards for unique insights often revealed in the telling details about, and the quotations from, the people featured in her columns. I work at…

In the September newsletter

President Ben Pollock has some candid comments about NSNC’s present state and planning for the future. In her bi-monthly column, Suzette Standring passes along some advice that can make a big difference in an interview. Guest columnist Lenore Skomal tells how knocking on doors can open the way to success for a book author. Special…

Zezima book receives press award

Jerry Zezima’s book, “Leave It to Boomer,” recently won humor book of the year honors from the Connecticut Press Club.   Jerry, also, was a recent guest on “Senior Moments,” a cable access TV program on Channel 20 on Long Island, N.Y. The National Society of Newspaper Columnists was mentioned on the show.   http://www.vimeo.com/28073383   Zezima writes…

Bykofsky raises $$$ for children’s charity

  Stu Bykofsky Stu Bykofsky, longtime columnist at the Philalphia Daily News, and recipient of the NSNC Will Rogers Humanitarian Award in 2003, is still at it. Past NSNC President, Bill Tammeus, commented, “Well, just so you know, he hasn’t quit doing the good things that won him that honor.” The event was the “21st Annual…

Bruce Cameron to speak in hometown

Petoskey, Michigan, is a quaint resort town in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan, population around 6,000. The most exciting stories in headlines of the local paper talk about things like school lunch prices, parking in downtown, and a car accident on cemetery road. About the best thing going for Petoskey is tourism. …

New board members, conference, topics at board meeting

Brian O’Connor reported to the board on the outcome from the Detroit conference. Russell Frank said, “I think I speak for all that he did an amazing & much appreciated job.”  Tracy Beckerman commented, “It was my first conference, but I was knocked out by it! Really felt very well-organized!’ Brian is still finalizing the last few…