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!

Another Visit From St. Nicholas

One of the first depictions of Santa Claus, by Thomas Nast, Jan. 3, 1863, cover of Harper's Weekly.

President’s Message By Jerry Zezima President National Society of Newspaper Columnists (With no apologies to Clement C. Moore, who is dead and can’t sue me.) • • • ‘Twas the time before conference for the NSNC, And members looked forward to the confab with glee. Yes, we would have it in sunny L.A., But what…

NSNC Couldn’t Honor Molly Ivins, Could It?

Lifetime Achievers This is the second in a series of articles about recipients of the NSNC’s Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. By Dave Astor Archivist National Society of Newspaper Columnists During her illustrious career, Molly Ivins won the admiration of countless readers, prizes such as the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ 1994 Lifetime Achievement Award,…

Eliscu Publishes Novel

Maine Authors Publishing has released a novel by  Kathy Eliscu. The book is Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess! The publisher’s page has this summary: “Somewhere in Maine, a middle-aged woman is having a serious temper tantrum. ‘Tink’ Casawill is drowning in family and work demands, hormones, a fiance oblivious to another woman’s flirtations,…

Tragedy: The Emotion of Right Now

Art of Column Writing By Suzette Martinez Standring 2004-06 NSNC President It’s the season of peace and goodwill, yet the hot breath of tragedy is fresh — the Paris bombings, the Syrian refugee crisis, and gun violence in America. As readers reach out for news, journalists and columnists are first-responders. Sometimes I don’t know how…

Heavy Hitters Head to Hollywood

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, California

#NSNC16 – Los Angeles By Lisa Smith Molinari Vice President National Society of Newspaper Columnists NCNC’s Conference Committee is proud to announce a sparkling marquis of speakers for the upcoming 2016 Conference held June 23-26 in Los Angeles, California. Online registration is open at tinyurl.com/nsnc16la for what will surely be a star-studded event. Pulitzer Prize…

Lifetime Achievement Award Goes to Leonard Pitts

Leonard Pitts Jr.

By Dave Astor Archivist National Society of Newspaper Columnists Leonard Pitts Jr. has been chosen to receive the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ 2016 Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. The widely syndicated columnist will be presented the honor on June 25 at the NSNC’s annual conference in Los Angeles — a fitting locale given that…