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

Social media was built for YOU…

Dave Lieber

you, the columnist Social media was built for YOU So why aren’t you doing a better job?   By Dave Lieber NSNC Education Foundation Secretary    I heard somebody say the other day that the only thing social media does for you is make you less social.    Knew you’d like that.    You’re a…

Newspaper, Paper or Plastic

Ben Pollock

By Ben S. Pollock NSNC President Thank you for electing me president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Didn’t you hear? I have not published a running column since Sept. 16, 2001. Instead I’ve written at benpollock.com/brick for nearly seven years. After the first year, the water warms up. Blogging is how I’ve coped…

Humor: The reality of airwaves

By Robert Hankins, NSNC Member The Record (Orange, Texas) I always hear doctors and nurses say Hollywood can’t get it right on medical dramas in movies and television shows; lawyers tell me the same thing. I myself have noticed this over the years about the newspaper business. So I’ve compiled this list concerning Tinseltown’s version…

The 2010 Winning Contest Columns

General Interest Greater than 100,000 Circulation Tom Rademacher, The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press – First Place  Death Sentence: Sex-offender law pushed homeless man out of shelters, into cold – Teen dispenses fresh smiles  – 2 families grieve as tragedies strike — Norris Burkes, Gannett New Service – Second Place Tears and near beer honor a fallen patriot…

Book on Ohio River republished

Towboat on the Ohio

After a Decade, Ohio River Book Back in Print    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The University Press of Kentucky has republished TOWBOAT ON THE OHIO, a book by James E. Casto. Originally published in 1995, the book has been out of print and unavailable for the past 10 years.   To get a close, personal look at…

NSNC & Members in the News

The July 2010 Columnists Conference at Indiana University, Bloomington. Reports on speakers, contests, field trips etc. are on this page. We welcome more, via the contact form. How Newspaper Columnists Learn About Sex Laurence Cohen & Gina Barreca | Courant.com …when you see all the little kids tweeting and texting and Internet-involved, they’re keeping detailed…