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!

Brinkley’s ‘Fresh Eyes,’ Curiosity Pass for Expertise

Suzette Standring, Joel Brinkley

Art of Column Writing This column originally was published in the April 2014 edition of The Columnist, the members’ newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. By Suzette Martinez Standring 2004-06 NSNC president Recently I ventured into a column genre so outside of my comfort zone: foreign affairs. I was inspired to try based…

The Legacy of Ernie Pyle

This column originally was published in the April 2014 edition of The Columnist, the members’ newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Editor’s Note: April 18, Friday this year, is National Columnists’ Day. The National Society of Newspaper Columnists created this holiday both for members but mainly as a flag to the world, reminding…

In the April Newsletter

newspaper

The April 2014 issue of The Columnist, out April 1, offers a lot of news. Conference Update Brinkley’s ‘Fresh Eyes,’ Curiosity Pass for Expertise — Art of Column Writing NSNC Honoring Brinkley’s Memory — President’s Message Joel Brinkley 1952-2014, an Obituary The Legacy of Ernie Pyle Journalism Survey Request Ethics, Horizontal Loyalty and Recalling Joel…

Some Cautionary Tales

Shredder Scissors

Daily Diary for March This column originally was published in the March 2014 edition of The Columnist, the members’ newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. By Ben Pollock Director of Media National Society of Newspaper Columnists I want to wish everyone the best of luck in our column contest. I’ll be entering again.…

Short Takes, A Tall Order

IBM Selectric II typewriter

President’s Message This column originally was published in the March 2014 edition of The Columnist, the members’ newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. By Eric Heyl President National Society of Newspaper Columnists ITEM! When facing a tight deadline or lacking a topic of particular gravitas, some columnists occasionally resort to a “notes” column,…

Joel Brinkley, 1952-2014

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joel Brinkley — a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and serving on its board as scholarship chair — died Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at a Washington hospital. He was suffering from previously undiagnosed leukemia. His death was announced today, Thursday. One report of his passing is from the Courier-Journal…