NSNC 2026 Columnist Contest - Deadline Extended to May 1

Consider a Gift to the NSNC Education Foundation

NSNC 2026 Columnist Contest - Deadline Extended to May 1

Contest submissions will be accepted through May 1! 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.

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

Ellen Goodman ‘Globe’-trotted to Column Fame

This is the 16th 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 I really wanted to attend our 2008 conference in New Orleans, partly because much-admired columnist Ellen Goodman would be receiving the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award.…

Man of Many Words Asks Alex

DEAR ALEX, My editor wants me to trim my weekly column word maximum from 650 down to 500. I also run a photo I have taken which sometimes doesn’t get used, except on their website. As a freelancer I have little input on decisions so should I just accept the new number? — MAN OF…

2017 Annual Column Contest Opens! Up to 40 Chances to Place!

By Cathy Turney Contest Chair The National Society of Newspaper Columnists announces that its 2017 contest is now open for submissions. Finalists and honorable mentions will be named in eight categories including General Interest, Humor and Online-Blog-Multimedia. Yes, writers who blog only can now enter! Increase your professional standing with “Nominated for NSNC Columnist Award”…

Tribes and Tribulations

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 second article in the series. Adversity inspires solidarity. When things go wrong we turn to those who understand and support. As members of the press, things have definitely gone…

Clarence Page Appears On Many a Newspaper Page

This is the 15th 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 When Clarence Page became a Chicago Tribune columnist in 1984, he recalled welcoming the challenge of “reaching the coveted place every journalist wants to be –…