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!

The Columnist’s Role Today

Columnists Talk Shop By Bonnie Jean Feldkamp Director of Media We’re talking to columnists about what it means to be an opinion writer in today’s market. This is the first article in the series. No matter which political camp you stood in this past year you were bound to take a hit on your stance.…

The Year of Living Courageously: What lies ahead for columnists in 2017?

By Lisa Smith Molinari President National Society of Newspaper Columnists Roughly three decades ago, technology took journalism and publishing for a wild ride into the Digital Age, and ever since, columnists have been hanging on, wondering where the runaway train will turn next. Should we fear what lies ahead? Or should we throw caution and…

2017 Annual Column Contest Opens!

Up to 40 Chances to Place! By Cathy Turney Contest Chair National Society of Newspaper Columnists The National Society of Newspaper Columnists announces that its 2017 contest is now open for submissions. (See complete Rules HERE.) Finalists and honorable mentions will be named in eight categories including General Interest, Humor and Online-Blog-Multimedia. Yes, writers who…

Will Rogers Award 2017 Nominating Period Open

Will Rogers

Nominations for the 2017 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award are now being accepted (application HERE). The award, recognizing a writer whose work has positively affected readers’ lives and produced tangible community wide benefits, will be presented at the annual NSNC Conference June 8-11 in Manchester, N.H. Any regularly published newspaper columnist, investigative reporter or feature writer who…

Death Seemed Near, So Art Buchwald Was Honored Early

This is the 14th in a series of articles about recipients of the NSNC’s annual Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. By Dave Astor Archivist National Society of Newspaper Columnists The situation surrounding Art Buchwald made 2006 perhaps the most memorable year for the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Because the renowned political satirist was expected…

FAKE NEWS = EYEBALLS = $$$

by Suzette Suzette Martinez Standring NSNC Past President Do I have to “Snopes” every shocking headline nowadays? For readers many fake news sites look legit, just like those taken down by Google:baltimoregazette.com, denverguardian.com, as well as parasitic domain-named sites such as USAToday.com.co and WashingtonPost.com.co However, news hoaxes will reappear in other forms fueled by ad networks…