The National Society of Newspaper Columnists was founded in 1977 and exists to promote professionalism and camaraderie among North American newspaper columnists. Membership is open to general interest, humor, op-ed, online, or other newspaper columnists. Academics and student columnists also are eligible to join. The annual conference is NSNC's primary event. The group also publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, maintains this website and advocates for columnists and free-press issues. New members are welcome - please join us!
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New Orleans Conference
Earlybird rate expires May 15th!
You can register online. It's quick and easy. Don't wait any longer. Do it now!
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"New Orleans, We haven't forgotten."
By Smiley Anders
32nd Annual Conference Chair
 That's the theme of the unique 32nd annual conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, June 19-22 at the historic Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Returning after holding its 2004 conference in New Orleans, the NSNC felt it should be a part of the recovery of the city after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding in 2005.
In addition to hearing from journalists who covered the disaster and experts from both the academic and business worlds who will discuss Katrina's lasting impact, conference attendees will spend a day in the community, visiting areas still recovering from the storm and flooding and talking to survivors.
The columns resulting from these visits will be collected in book form, with proceeds to benefit the recovery effort.
Conference co-chair Sheila Stroup of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, a former NSNC president, says a Saturday, June 21, tour will visit recovery areas being served by Habitat for Humanity, including Musicians Village, one of the most successful projects, and the St. Bernard Project in an adjoining parish that was virtually wiped out by the flooding.
In addition, volunteers from the NSNC are arriving early and/or staying late to pitch in and help through volunteer groups. Stroup said volunteermatch.org provides some 150 suggestions for organizations needing volunteers. (Or simply Google "Volunteering in New Orleans.")
Animal lovers can help through Animal Rescue of New Orleans (ARNO).
And NSNC member David Chartrand seeks columnists interesting in dealing with the mental illness impact of Katrina for a special project while they're in the city.
Ellen Goodman, Pulitizer Prize-wining Boston Globe columnist who is widely syndicated, will receive the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award at the Saturday, June 21 awards dinner.
Being columnists, NSNC members will find time for some fun while they're in the city, dining at such landmarks as Brennan's, Dooky Chase and Arnaud's; enjoying a Cajun food reception at the Aquarium of the Americas (a Katrina survivor) and sampling music from guitarist/singer/songwriter Spencer Bohren and the Storyville Stompers brass band.
REGISTRATION - HOTEL INFO - CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
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You can book it
Here's another good reason to attend the 32nd annual NSNC conference in New Orleans June 19-22: You can become an author.
Since New Orleans' attempt to recover from being virtually destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is one of the most dramatic stories of our generation, we're expecting some great columns to come out of the conference.
We plan on collecting these columns (with permission, of course) and assembling them in an attractive book. Current plans call for proceeds from the sale of the book to go to help the recovery effort, which still needs help almost three years after the storm and flood.
It's not bragging, but a fact, to say that we have some of the best writers in the country (and Canada) in this organization. Here's a chance to showcase these writers and their work, and at the same time give some help where help is most needed.
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Historic Hotel Monteleone
New Orleans Conference Central
 Located in the New Orleans French Quarter, Hotel Monteleone (pronounced "mont e-le-own") is a historic landmark that has undergone extensive restoration. The hotel’s grandfather clock from 1909 still chimes in the lobby, surrounded by glittering chandeliers, polished marble floors and gleaming brass.
CONTINUED - HOTEL HISTORY
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Stompin' with the Storyville Stompers
 NEW ORLEANS - NSNC is in for a treat at our annual convention on Friday prior to our dinner at the Aquarium of the Americas. The Storyville Stompers will lead us parade-style through the streets of the city from the hotel to the Aquarium. Instead of merely walking the several blocks, we will be paraded in true New Orleans fashion.
The Storyville Stompers play traditional New Orleans music, the kind that jazz and Dixieland are based on. They are known for their performances at Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The French Quarter Festival and numerous other national and international celebrations. When they are around, everything else stops.
Many years of involvement in the cultural heritage of New Orleans have given this band an understanding of the great musical tradition of the city. The Stompers play at weddings, conventions, parties and anywhere that people want music with a New Orleans flavor. They even do the traditional jazz funerals for which New Orleans is famous.
This is our chance to strut our stuff! What could be more fun than the Storyville Stompers leading a parade of NSNC Stompers in the true spirit of New Orleans. Bring your parasols and your kazoos and get involved in the fun.
The Storyville Stompers have perpetuated the “second-line” parade in which a group follows behind the band and twirls decorated umbrellas or waves hankerchiefs. Nobody walks, everybody dances.
This a chance to celebrate the city we are returning to support, the Big Easy, New Orleans !
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Stay connected with Wi Fi
NEW ORLEANS - Yes, the Hotel Monteleon has free Wi Fi in public places and meeting rooms in the hotel. Wi-Fi is a way to connect to the Internet wirelessly -- without physically attaching your computer to anything. All you need is a laptop with a wireless card.
To writers and journalists who can’t live without a computer, this is great news. This technology has revolutionized the way computers are used; much like cordless phones did the telephone. So, plan to keep that keyboard clicking at the convention.
If you are blogging the convention, let the web editor know and we will link to you from our website. Also, let us know about published articles on personal or newspaper sites that we can link to, or submit your New Orleans articles or photos to the web editor for publication here on the NSNC website, www.columnists.com.
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Columnists' Academy Series
Advice to a young writer
 Terry Marotta replies to a young potential journalist who wrote to NSNC. She wondered what the basic components of a good and readable column are and what advice we would give a middle school student interested in becoming a columnist/journalist. Read article.
The Columnists' Academy is an online training resource for writers at all stages of their careers. It's never too late to learn something new or sharpen your skills. Other great articles from the Columnists' Academy Series can also be found on this site.
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 2008 Student Scholarship
winners announced
Winners of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists Educational Foundation Scholarship Contest were announced April 24th by NSNC Education Chairman, Russell Frank.
Winners are:
1st place: Kristin Butler, Duke University, Senior, English
2nd place: Julia Borris, Indiana University, Junior, Psychology
3rd place: Matias Ramos, UCLA, Senior, Political Science
Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist from the Boston Globe, and the 2008 recipient of the NSNC Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award selected the winners.
The NSNCEF awarded three scholarships to these three outstanding student newspaper columnists who write for U.S. college or university undergraduate newspapers. First prize is $1,000. Second prize is $500. Third prize is $250.
In addition, the top winner, Kristin Butler, will be the guest of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists at its 2008 conference in New Orleans, June 21-24.
CONTINUED - Judges Comments
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Read scholarship winner's column
 Kristin Butler, a college student newspaper columnist who carried out a successful protest against racially discriminatory regulations at Duke University, is this year's top winner of the NSNC Education Foundation scholarship contest.
A graduating senior, Kristin's 58th and final column appearing in The Chronicle on April 22, Butler said: "Writing 45,240 words over four semesters (yes, I counted) hasn't always been fun, and it certainly hasn't been easy. But being a columnist has also been a singular honor."
Read one of Kristin's powerful columns.
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2008 Column Writing Contest Update
Thank you to those who entered our contest this year! Our contest judges are busy reading through the entries and will notify us of their selections by May 15.
As soon as we hear from them, we'll then contact the winners. While it is not a requirement, we hope that all the winners will attend our annual conference in New Orleans (June 19-22).
Winners will be recognized at the New Orleans Convention in June and names posted on the website shortly afterwards.
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Will Roberts has a new television series
Humorist and trick roper Will Roberts has made the crossover from Newspaper (105 news sites, online) to a broadcast TV segment of his weekly comments."'Will Roberts Weekly Telegram" now is being aired on PBS's Okalahoma Horizons TV show.
Roberts is not a stranger to the broadcast world, spending the last 25 years as a actor and as a FOX Kids TV host and CBS feature reporter for a California market station. He has won media awards for his quick, informative and educational segment style. His mission to bring common sense and communication back to the world we live in with a sense of humor has been recognized by all ages. He has been called "The Modern Day Will Rogers", according to his Web site WillRogersUSA.com.
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Will Roger's writings available online
 The Web site of the Will Rogers Memorial Museums has a striking new look and an exciting new feature. Now visitors to http://www.willrogers.com can access the four volumes of Rogers' Daily Telegrams, perhaps his most famous and recognizable body of work. Eventually the full, multi-volume "Writings of Will Rogers" published by Oklahoma State University Press from 1973-1983. will be available online.
Museum officials said users of the Web site "will be able to search easily and quickly by phrases and keywords to locate and use the full range of his previously published work, plus his weekly radio broadcasts for which sound recordings are available."
Will Rogers is the legendary philosopher-humorist-writer who inspired the establishment of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award in 1999 by the NSNC.
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Next issue of The Columnist newsletter in June
Deadline Friday, May 23
A shorter version of The Columnist newsletter is now being produced and emailed monthly. You can look for the next issue around the first of June. The May issue of The eColumnist newsletter was emailed on May 4th. If you did not receive your issue, contact director@columnists.com.
Contributions from members are welcome. Please submit news items, ideas for stories and other suggestions to haughtline@gmail.com. Deadline for the June eColumnist is Friday, May 23.
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Fresh from the Bombeck Conference in Dayton
By Suzette Martinez Standring
and Dan St. Yves
 Talk about a great conference! The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop featured almost 30 experts with advice on writing, publication, promotion, networking and staying inspired. About 325 humor and general interest writers attended the two-day conference held at the University of Dayton on April 3-5, 2008. In a post-conference survey, attendees rated the “workshop as a whole” an average of 8.9 (67% gave it a 9 or 10).
The NSNC was one of its sponsors and our two organizations have long enjoyed a supportive relationship. Dan St. Yves, NSNC membership chair, and Suzette Martinez Standring, NSNC Past President, were there to pick up tips (and hopefully, new NSNC members).
So what’s in it for those who did not attend?
Dan and Suzette pooled their workshop notes for sharing. Unfortunately, they did not catch many notable speakers since the workshops ran as concurrent sessions. So the few presenters featured do not even represent one-third of the informative offerings.
ARTICLE CONTINUED
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NSNC Award Winner subject of Hollywood film
 Steve Lopez, winner of the 2004 NSNC Lifetime Achievement Award, is the subject of a Hollywood film, according to an article by Patrick Goldstein in the Los Angeles Times (April 15, 2008). The film called “The Soloist” is based on a series of articles Lopez wrote in 2005 about a musician he found on skid row in Los Angeles. The musician is Nathaniel Ayers, who suffers from schizophrenia. Lopez discovered him playing Beethoven on a violin in the 2nd Street Tunnel in LA.
In the wake of newspaper buyouts and financial failures, it is refreshing to those in the newspaper biz to find a film hero who is a newspaper columnist. The movie, due to be released November 21st, deals with complex social issues, such as mental illness and homelessness, and also offers a measure of redemption for today's embattled journalists. Additional details about the story can be found in Goldstein's article in the Los Angeles Times.
The movie exposes the conscience of a newspaper columnist and honors Lopez’s work as well as the paper he writes for. Susanna Grant, writer of the movie script, was quoted in the Times as saying “We're a society with a free press, yet we're throwing it away. I hoped that telling an honest, human story would be a great way to wake people up."
Lopez joined the Los Angeles Times in 2001 after four years at Time Inc. Prior to Time, he was a columnist for 12 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lopez is a member of the NSNC Hall of Fame, having received our prestigious Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors his work and establishes a level to which other columnists strive to achieve.
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New Members are WELCOME! Please join us!
Here at the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, we embrace and encourage all levels of columnists - aspiring columnists, novice columnists, experienced columnists; even lapsed columnists. You do not have to be employed by a newspaper to be a member. Freelancers, stringers, retirees and guest contributors are welcome. We hope to offer something for every level of your career, and to that end we are constantly trying to offer more bang for your membership buck. If you're a current member, and you haven't already attended one of our conferences, consider signing up for New Orleans, and experience first-hand why so many members keep coming back, year after year.
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Please submit news items, news tips, ideas for stories and other suggestions to NSNCwebeditor@yahoo.com
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We have a great Discussion Group!
You must be a current member of NSNC to subscribe.
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