NSNC to Recognize 2026 Annual Columnist Contest Winners

Join or Renew Your NSNC Membership

Consider a Gift to the NSNC Education Foundation

NSNC to Recognize 2026 Annual Columnist Contest Winners

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) President and Board of Directors are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Annual Columnist Contest at an online awards celebration on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. EST. If you would like to join us for the awards ceremony, email nsncdirector@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Join or Renew Your NSNC Membership

Welcome! Whether you write for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, trade journals or you create a podcast or write digital content, or you manage your own blog … whether you’re on staff, a freelancer, syndicated, self-syndicated or independent, if you write opinion or provide commentary, we invite you to join the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Join us at https://www.columnists.com/join-or-renew-membership/.

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

Roger Ebert Honored for Lifetime Achievement

A full and busy day of conference activities concluded Saturday night with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement award to Roger Ebert, who appeared live from Chicago via Skype. The NSNC Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award is given yearly to honor a columnist who exemplifies outstanding achievement. It is the NSNC organization’s highest honor. Roger…

2011 Sitting Duck Award: The Body Politic

DETROIT, Saturday, June 25, 2011 – “The Body Politic” is the winner of the 2011 Sitting Duck Award of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. “Our public servants have been abusing their franking privilege,” said Ben S. Pollock, president of the NSNC, which gives this award annually to an easy target for columnists on a…

College Columnists Scholarships Presented

Award Certificate

Jocelyn Rousey of Boston College was presented with the 2011 NSNC Education Foundation Scholarship award following lunch at an infamous Detroit landmark called American Coney Island. In accepting the award, Jocelyn commented that the thing that had impressed her most about attending the columnists’ conference was the passion for writing that columnists show.  One of…

What Makes Good Columns Good?

Don Fry, writing coach and emeritus faculty member of The Poynter Institute, lectured on the factors that make columns accurate, complete and fair. Don Fry’s appearance was sponsored by the Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau in order to make it possible to have a top expert in attendance. Fry said to always remember that good column…

Top Ten American Columns in History

DETROIT, Saturday, June 25, 2011 —  In a survey of columnists nationwide, the top American column in history was typed up by the late, great Ernie Pyle. Pyle’s “The Death of Captain Waskow” first was published Jan. 10, 1944, by his syndicate, Scripps Howard. John Avlon, senior political columnist for Newsweek-The Daily Beast, created the…

Awards Presented by NSNC

Dossion Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle was the site of Friday night dinner sponsored by Ford Motor Company for attendees of the 35th Annual Conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The Legacy Award was presented posthumously to Mike Harden of the Columbus Dispatch for his excellence as a columnist and many years…