Black & White and Read All Over’ — Indianapolis, June 25-28, 2015 By Ginger Truitt, Michelle Freed, Amanda Beam and Mike Leonard 2015 Conference Co-Chairs Who’s your mama? Who’s your daddy? Who’re your hosts for the 2015 NSNC conference? It’s the Hoo-hoo Hoosiers, who are happy to be your hosts for our 2015 conference at…
Art of Column Writing By Suzette Martinez Standring 2004-06 President National Society of Newspaper Columnists Columnist downsizing feels like a solitary darkness, so news that our industry is turning a corner was sunlight on a cell window. Last June John Avlon, editor in chief of The Daily Beast, was a bringer of light. At the…
The Robert Benchley Society has opened its 2014 Humor Writing Award Competition, named for the early 20th century humorist. The deadline is Sept. 15, his 125th birthday, having been born in 1889. The society also announced that political comedian Mark Russell will be the finalists’ judge this year. Information on the competition can be found…
Online columnist Robert L. Haught has published a novel, “Here’s Clare,” which made its debut at the 38th annual conference in Washington, D.C., in June 2014. “Here’s Clare” is a fast-moving story about a strong, defiant woman who teams with a political opposite in a new romance and a high-stakes race for high office. Or…
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:…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Drones — no, not the ones in Congress but the unmanned ones that fly around — have won this year’s Sitting Duck Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The award is given each year to a person or subject that represents easy pickings for columnists on slow news days. The…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Society of Newspaper Columnists proudly announces the winners of the 2014 annual column contest. The third-, second- and first-place order was announced at the Awards Banquet during the 2014 NSNC conference on Saturday, June 28, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. These top columnists as well as honorable mentions are…
The publisher of Suzette Martinez Standring‘s newest book on writing is offering a two-day giveaway of its electronic edition. “Give” as in free! On Sunday, June 29 and Monday, June 30, 2014, receive a free Kindle dowload of Standring’s The Art of Opinion Writing: Insider Secrets from Top Op-Ed Columnists. RRP International Inc. is providing…
Columnists, bloggers and guests coming to the 38th annual conference of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, June 26-29, 2014, this post is for you. It comprises emailed notes to those who have signed up so far that will help make our conference beneficial and fun. We’ll add tips and suggestions here as they come…
By Bob and Mary Haught Washington, D.C., was our workplace for more than 20 years. We find the nation’s capital to be beautiful and exciting, and there’s never enough time to enjoy all of its attractions. Here’s a guide to what you can see and do, as time permits, while you’re here for the conference:…
Art of Column Writing By Suzette Martinez Standring 2004-06 NSNC president It’s countdown to the conference, and for me the journey comes full circle. It was the year 2000 when I first tiptoed into a ballroom of columnists in Washington, D.C. That was 14 years ago, and now the NSNC is back in the Capital.…
President’s Message By Eric Heyl NSNC President Don’t wait to buy your registration from scalpers. Don’t be that person. We still have some registrations available for the upcoming conference in Washington, but I won’t guarantee we won’t sell out before this extravaganza commences on June 26. I’m bad at guarantees. I can’t even offer credible…
