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!

AMON! The Ultimate Texan Gets World Premiere

Hurst, Texas: Artisan Center Theater in Hurst, the largest community theater in North Texas, is producing a world premiere play, AMON! The Ultimate Texan, written by renowned journalist, NSNC member, and longtime Texan, Dave Lieber. Lieber received the 2017 NSNC Legacy Award for his many contributions to the organization. The play honors and celebrates the…

John Avlon Has Been a Columnist in Various Media

By Dave Astor NSNC Archivist   CNN’s John Avlon will be one of the NSNC’s main speakers during our June 20-23 conference in Buffalo, NY. Avlon – who’ll keynote the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award evening on June 21 – is a senior political analyst and fill-in anchor at CNN, former Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast, author…

NSNC Members Write about Cincinnati

After an inspiring weekend in Cincinnati, may conference-goers returned to home to write about their experience. Below are excerpts and links to articles that have been shared with us. If yours is not listed and you’d like to add yours please email the link to Bonnie and media@columnists.com and we’ll include yours in the listing…

Ask Alex: Is Self Publishing Selling Out?

Dear Alex: So the time-honored question on the lips of a roundtable of writers extraordinaire has again raised its head – does self-publication still carry the vanity cloud? Can a “real” writer self-publish with head held high or should one hold out for traditional publication? I see the lists of books put out by many…

The 2019 Annual NSNC Column Writing Contest Is Open!

Are you excited? Read the rules , gather your best columns, and enter! Dallas Morning News’ Watchdog Dave Lieber returns to emcee the 2019 awards event. It is the “Oscars of column writing” and the grand finale of the NSNC’s annual conference happening this year in Buffalo, New York, June 20-23, 2019 . See this…

A Front-Row Seat to “The Oscars of Column Writing”

you, the columnist By Dave Lieber Dallas Morning News columnist A good awards banquet is not only about award winners but also about the spirit of the organization. Our 2018 awards banquet captured the strong playful spirit of our group along with many surprises. From a potential presidential candidate in the audience (Ohio Sen. Sherrod…