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!

2020 NSNC Column-Writing Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s competition. A special thank you goes out to our panel of judges for reading this years entries and choosing those who stood apart for recognition. Below you’ll find this year’s winners. For the online categories we’ve provided links to the winning entries for you to enjoy reading.…

How the NSNC Helped Me Discover My Own Columnist Heritage

By Cole ImperiNSNC Member I am a Thanatologist, someone who studies death and dying.  I’m definitely the only one of those in my family.  My work in this field eventually led me towards genealogy, which is, essentially, the study of the dead. Who were these dead people I descended from, anyway? For many family genealogists,…

Now Is the Time for You to Be a Leader

By Dave LieberThe Dallas Morning News City mayors, county leaders, state governors, and presidents are expected to show leadership in times of crisis. But I would argue that now is the time for columnists and bloggers to do the same. We learned after 9/11 what a difference one great column can make for readers. Remember…

The Secret Life of a Would-Be Novelist

(Damn You, Noxious Virus, Causing Me More Work When You Know How I Hate to Put Off Novel Writing) By Pam J. HechtNSNC Member I have a problem that will likely prevent me from finishing this column, which is also, frankly, a flagrant cry for help. In fact, I will probably ask you to finish…