By Lisa Smith Molinari NSNC President The theme for this month’s NSNC Annual Conference – “Live Free and Write – But Not for Free” – was no afterthought. We all know that column writing is a craft, not a job; a form of art, not a task; a manifestation of expression, not a business. However,…
Category: Advocacy
Special thanks to THE CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART!
Special thanks to THE CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART! FREE entrance is granted to NSNC attendees on Thursday, June 8 and on Sunday, June 11, 2017. NSNC attendee names will be given to the museum’s front desk. Hours of operation: Thursday and Sunday, 11 am – 5 p.m. (Jazz Brunch opens at 10 a.m. and…
Did Breslin Do This?
By Dave Lieber Dallas Morning News columnist First, I write the column. This is about what’s next. Did Breslin do this? * I write the headline. If I fail on this and nobody likes my headline, all the work I did for a 900-word column goes to the crapper. I know this from…
Will Rogers Award Honors Active Columnist for Community Service
Suzette Martinez Standring to receive Will Rogers Humanitarian Award Suzette Martinez Standring is one of the busiest members of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She bylines a syndicated spirituality column and writes a blog, she has authored two award-winning books widely used in journalism classes, she speaks at national workshops and conferences on a…
Carl Hiaasen Is More Than One ‘…ist’
This is the 18th in a series of articles about recipients of the NSNC’s annual Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. By Dave Astor Archivist National Society of Newspaper Columnists Carl Hiaasen is a columnist, novelist, and on the list…of Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award winners. The multitalented writer received the honor at our 2010 conference…
Prison Diaries Writer Finds Camaraderie at NSNC Annual Conference
By Chandra Bozelko Prison Diaries became the first regular, inmate-written byline in 2012. Consider that: with the wealth of knowledge and stories that incarcerated people have, no one gave even one of them a regular byline in a news publication until well into the 21st century. Sure, inmates published here and there, but a regular spot…
What The Hell Just Happened?
A Political Roundtable The 2017 conference in Manchester, NH, June 8-11, includes a political roundtable on Friday afternoon from 2:00 to 2:50 p.m. that will discuss all that has happened in this oddity of a political season. Emmy award winning Scott Spradling will moderate this discussion. Spradling is a former reporter, anchor and political director for WMUR-TV in…
It’s Not Novel That Some Novelists Have Also Written Columns Astor
By Dave Astor NSNC Archivist Some writers have been columnists AND novelists. You’re probably aware of a few who’ve done both, while the names of others may surprise you. Let’s go alphabetically, shall we? Iconic science-fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote or edited an astounding 500-plus books during his career, yet also found time…
Happy National Columnists Day!
This gallery contains 42 photos →
What’s to Know About Manchester, NH
By Mike Morin Conference Chair Spiny cockleburs put Manchester on the map. Chances are you use the product inspired by the annoying burs that stick to your clothes while hiking. Velcro was born out of the hook and loop configuration of spiny cockleburs. So thank Swiss engineer George de Mestral and New Hampshire every time…
‘#IAMaColumnist’: NSNC’s campaign for Columnists’ Day 2017
By Lisa Smith Molinari President National Society of Newspaper Columnists What makes one a columnist? Is it occupying a weekly space on page seven of the newspaper? Is it blogging? Is it a regular spot in the local Patch? Is it a monthly feature in a regional magazine? Is it a series of opinion pieces…
We’re In Big Trouble
By Dave Lieber Dallas Morning News columnist Now for the first time, I really feel it. I can touch it. It’s happening all around. The death of a competent, successful free press. The spiral downward for newspapers and TV news. We are going down and going down fast. It’s a combination: the smartphone, our own…
Find Your Literary Agent at NSNC 2017
Have you written a book? We have agents eager to hear your pitches. Here’s how it works First, find out how pitches and the types of books compel professional representation from the NSNC’s first-ever Literary Agents/Publishers’ Panel on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at the NSNC annual conference at the Manchester Radisson in NH. Direct questions…
Tribes and Tribulations
by Bonnie Jean Feldkamp Director of Media We’re talking to columnists about what it means to be an opinion writer in today’s market. This is the second article in the series. Adversity inspires solidarity. When things go wrong we turn to those who understand and support. As members of the press, things have definitely gone…
Feisty, Fresh and Fascinating: NYT’s Maureen Dowd to Receive NSNC’s Highest Honor
By Lisa Smith Molinari President National Society of Newspaper Columnists She’s been called “an antagonist of the White House,” “an equal opportunity faultfinder,” and “a striking redhead with a deceptively kittenish demeanor,” among other things. But no matter what you call Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, the fact is, she is one…
Have Questions? Ask Alex.
Do you ever wish you had a mentor to give you advice about the business? Sure, we have the Columnist Clubhouse as a place where anyone can go to gather, share and offer support. Of course, you can always post questions there. But people don’t always see every post and let’s face it, maybe you…
Old Man to host Alex in 2017
By Lisa Smith Molinari President National Society of Newspaper Columnists There is a steep granite cliff among the towering White Mountains of New Hampshire, where, for many years, the glacier-sculpted profile of “the Old Man of the Mountain” looked out upon the state — guarding its historical significance, uniquely American ideals, fiercely independent residents, and…