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!

Is Dan Savage ‘the most influential advice columnist’?

IBM Selectric II typewriter

The current issue of Washington Monthly crowns advice columnist Dan Savage as this generation’s “most influential advice columnist,” specifically successor to Ann Landers, at the same time it argues the incongruity of such a claim. Lutheran pastor Benjamin J. Dueholm wrote the lengthy profile, calling Dan Savage the “brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist [who] has…

A TV Show Starring You … Why Not?

Art of Column Writing By Suzette Martinez Standring NSNC Past President The possibility to host your own TV show may be easier than you think and if you are so inclined, be encouraged. Since last June, I’ve hosted “It’s All Write with Suzette,” a 30 minute how-to program on the craft of column writing.  The…

One Score and 14 Years Ago: a 1977 Story about Our Founding

When the National Society of Newspaper Columnists began in 1977, NSNC founder Larry Maddry wrote an un-bylined story about the new group for Editor & Publisher magazine. Larry, a now-retired Norfolk (Va.) Virginian-Pilot columnist who is one of this year’s NSNC Legacy Award winners, mailed our organization a photocopy of his 34-year-old article after learning…

Three NSNC Pioneers Honored

Award Certificate

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists will honor three of its pioneers for outstanding service to the organization at the annual conference in Detroit, June 23-26. The NSNC Legacy Award will be presented posthumously to Mike Harden, longtime columnist for The Columbus Dispatch, who unveiled the new award at the 2010 conference in Bloomington, Ind.…

Interview with NSNC Veep

Karen J. Rinehart is a Charlotte, NC area syndicated columnist, author and speaker. She has been writing her award-winning column, “True To Life”, (a.k.a. The Bus Stop Mommies), since 2002. It is syndicated by Media General newspapers and a regular feature on CatholicLane.com and CatholicExchange.com. Rinehart is a frequent guest humorist and “mommy expert” on…

In the March Newsletter

newspaper

Emails from NSNC are important, including the monthly newsletter.  In the March issue of the e-Columnist you’ll find: – Reasons why you should register now for the 2011 Conference in Detroit, June 23-26. – Program details from Conference Chair Brian O’Connor. – News about columnists being honored at the conference. – Some observations about “farewell columns” by…