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!

Writing to Heal – Suzette Martinez Standring

By Suzette Martinez Standring NSNC Past President Writing to heal.  It’s what columnists do, but perhaps many of us don’t think of it that way.  We entertain. We opine. We guide. But heal? Lifestyle or family columnists reach out to readers who often identify with the columnist’s emotions or a memory shared. To relate and…

Hey, columnists! What’s your (writing) problem?

 Do your leads lack punch? Do your kickers fall flat? Or are you having trouble with that big bunch of words that goes in the middle of your column?  Get a personalized solution to vanquish whatever writing issues vex you, whether it’s writers’ block, making deadline or just getting your editors to cooperate. Renowned writing…

Rebound in Motown – Hitsville USA

Visitors to the 2011 Detroit Conference “Rebound In Motown” will see Barry Gordy’s two-story frame house where the musical magic happened on Detroit’s West Grand Boulevard. Our private tour includes a glimpse of the famous Motown echo chamber and a studio visit where you can stand in the footsteps of Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.…

WikiLeaks and ivory tower journalism

By Jocelyn Rousey, Staff Columnist,         The Heights, Boston College       NSNC First Place Scholarship Winner WikiLeaks is the Facebook of journalism. And I don’t mean that in a “Yay, modern technology meets journalism! Whoopee!” sort of way. Rather, WikiLeaks, the online nonprofit group that provides an anonymous medium through which disgruntled government insiders can lead…

Scholarship Winners Announced

Jocelyn Rousey of Boston College was announced as First Place winner of the NSNC Education Foundation College Student Scholarship Contest. Second Place went to Gavin Mathis, Washington State University and Third Place winner was Jillian Werthei of  UC  Berkeley. First prize is $1,000 and a trip to the Annual NSNC Conference as a guest of…

Column about Detroit

By Susan Young susandyoung@hotmail.com The Observer The city of Detroit, or as Aretha Franklin pronounces it, “Day-Twah”, gets a much undeserved bum rap and might not be your choice of vacation destinations. However, my recent visit was a pleasant, safe and educational experience. We stayed in the core of the city at a renovated historical…