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.
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
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
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!
President’s Message By Jerry Zezima President National Society of Newspaper Columnists Greetings, I am your new president. No six words in the English language can strike more paralyzing fear into NSNC members except, perhaps, “Don’t move, this is a stick-up” or “Hey, pal, your fly is open.” Still, it’s true. (Made you look down, didn’t…
Writers attending the June 26-29 conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists had something to say about the weekend. Following are some columns and blog posts, not just about the 38th annual NSNC conference but also about related events, the host city Washington, D.C., and, for Australian member Annie Barr, the host country. This…
Muse Harbor Publishing in June released Everything Ever After: Confessions of a Family Man by Michael Picarella, a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.The book is based on the syndicated family columns of the Southern California writer. Picarella offers witty and often laugh-aloud funny stories about marriage, fatherhood, family and suburban community life…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Suzette Martinez Standring, 2004-06 president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, shot brief videos of two top speakers at its 38th annual conference June 26-29, 2014. The first is 1:32 of NSNC member John Avlon, editor in chief of The Daily Beast. He spoke on “How to Succeed as a Columnist in a…
The souvenir conference edition of The Columnist, the newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, has been emailed to members. They will find information about the recently completed, 38th annual NSNC conference, held June 26-29, 2014, in Washington, D.C. A Capital Idea – D.C. Conference News — a recap NSNC Column Contest Winners 2014*…
Jeff Kramer Mystic Tie Award 2014 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amanda Beam, columnist at the News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the winner of the 2014 Jeff Kramer Mystic Tie Award for her creation of the top of a story from a farcical premise. The set-up, by 2013 winner Samantha Bennett, Pittsburgh-based columnist, was as follows:…
NSNC member Paul Lander’s new video, “54321: Five Rejected Peanuts Specials,” is a fast, funny parody poking fun at those classic Peanuts holiday specials. It’s one installment in a growing humor series ‘54321,’ Paul co-wrote, executive produced, co-created with filmmaker Matthew Clark. Watch here Lander’s new video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn5vf2M8Ls0
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
NSNC 2026 Columnist Contest Read the Rules, Select Your Category, and Enter HERE Beginning on January 15, 2026, we are accepting entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists for our Annual Columnist Contest (for work published in 2025). Enter here. We are accepting entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists published in 2025. Everyone is welcome to…
The National Society of Newspaper Columnists 2026 Annual Columnist Contest is open and accepting entries through April 17. “We are accepting entries from columnists, bloggers, and serial essayists for work published in 2025. Everyone is welcome to submit. You don’t have to be an NSNC member to enter. However, you can save on entry fees by…
Join NSNC and Google at 7 p.m. EST on Jan. 21 for an “AI Tools for News” webinar. Topic: AI Tools for News Description: Whether it’s helping reporters sort through thousands of documents, or enabling people to access information in their own language, AI opens up new opportunities that could significantly improve billions of lives. Google’s mission…
