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EnglishWhat is the National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC)?
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The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) is a professional organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, working in any medium. Its website, columnists.com, serves as the organization's public face: it introduces the society, announces events and programs, and provides membership information for people who want to join or renew.
Who the organization serves
The scope described on the site is broader than the name might suggest. "Newspaper columnists" is the historical core, but the organization explicitly includes writers of the serial essay and bloggers, and it does not limit itself to print. That means the relevant audience includes:
- Newspaper and magazine columnists
- Opinion and essay writers publishing online
- Bloggers who write recurring, serial-style commentary
- Other writers whose work fits the serial essay format
If your work is recurring commentary published under your own voice, the organization's stated scope covers you regardless of platform.
What the website is used for
Based on the site's current content, columnists.com functions mainly as an organizational hub rather than a publishing platform. The visible sections point to four kinds of activity:
| Area | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Events | Online sessions and mixers, such as a talk and Q&A with an opinion editor about his work and debut book |
| Community | Member gatherings, including a fall mixer held online in the evening (Eastern time) |
| Membership | A join-or-renew entry point for new and returning members |
| Recognition | Announcements of awards honoring columnists |
| Fundraising | A seasonal campaign inviting gifts |
The events are a useful signal of what membership looks like in practice: talks by working columnists and editors, followed by audience Q&A, delivered online. Some sessions are ticketed separately from membership — the site lists a member price and a higher non-member price for at least one event, with a donation option as well. Check the current event listing for exact prices and dates, since the site notes that at least one session was rescheduled.
How to decide whether to engage
Consider joining or attending if you write recurring commentary and want access to peers, craft-focused conversations, and recognition within a community of columnists. The member versus non-member pricing on events suggests membership pays off if you plan to attend more than occasionally, though the site does not publish a full membership fee schedule in the material available here.
If you are unsure, the lowest-commitment step is to register for a single online event and see whether the programming matches your interests. If you write in a different format — one-off articles, reporting, or fiction — the organization's stated focus on the serial essay may be a weaker fit.
For current event dates, registration links, and membership terms, go directly to columnists.com rather than relying on secondhand summaries, as schedules and prices change.