columnists.com

The NSNC Fall Fundraising Campaign is a seasonal appeal by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists asking members and supporters to make a gift that helps fund the organization's programs and services for columnists and other writers of the serial essay. The campaign appears as a featured item on the NSNC homepage under the heading "NSNC Fall Fundraising Campaign – Consider a Gift." If you want to support the organization financially, the campaign page is the starting point; the site does not publish a fixed donation amount, so the gift is presumably at the donor's discretion.

What the campaign supports

The NSNC describes itself as an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium. The fundraising appeal sits alongside the society's other member-facing activities, which the homepage highlights:

• Online programming — for example, the "Opinionated" session with Clay Wirestone, opinion editor at the Kansas City Reflector, discussing his work and debut book. That event was rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10, 7–8 PM EST, with tickets at $25 for NSNC members and $35 for non-members, or attendees could make a donation instead.
• Member gatherings — such as the NSNC Fall Mixer at 7 p.m. EST on Oct. 28.
• Recognition — the site notes that Derrick Jackson was honored with awards this season.
• Membership — a standing invitation to join or renew.

The campaign's purpose, as presented on the site, is to sustain this mix of events, services, and recognition for columnists. The site does not break down how donated funds are allocated, so treat any specific use of funds as general support for the organization rather than a restricted gift.

How to contribute

1. Go to the NSNC homepage at columnists.com.
2. Find the "NSNC Fall Fundraising Campaign – Consider a Gift" section.
3. Follow the giving option provided there to make your contribution.

The site does not list specific payment platforms or a suggested amount, so the exact checkout process is only visible once you reach the campaign's giving link. If you prefer to combine support with programming, the Clay Wirestone event offers a donation option in place of a ticket purchase, per the event description.

Deciding whether to give

A one-time campaign gift and a membership are different commitments: the gift supports the organization, while membership is the recurring relationship the site promotes separately. The site does not state whether donations are tax-deductible or whether gifts are acknowledged publicly, so confirm those details with NSNC directly before relying on them.

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) recognizes columnists through awards that honor achievement in column writing, and the organization's site highlights these honors by naming individual columnists—for example, a featured item notes that "Derrick Jackson [was] honored with awards this season." The available site material confirms that awards are part of how NSNC spotlights columnists, but it does not list award categories, judging criteria, entry rules, or deadlines. Use the organization's site as the starting point to see who is being recognized and what kind of work the group celebrates; check with NSNC directly for current award details.

What the Site Shows About Awards

The NSNC homepage presents awards as one of several ongoing activities alongside events, membership, and fundraising. The visible evidence is limited to a headline announcing that Derrick Jackson was honored with awards this season. That tells you:

• NSNC publicly acknowledges columnists who receive awards.
• Recognition is presented as news on the organization's main page, not buried in a separate archive.
• The organization frames awards as part of its broader mission as "an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium."

What the page does not provide: the names of specific NSNC award programs, eligibility requirements, submission windows, or judging standards. Those details would need to come from NSNC's own award pages or direct inquiry.

Why This Matters for Columnists

Awards serve two practical purposes for writers:

1. Credibility signals. A recognized award can be cited in bios, pitches, and membership materials.
2. Benchmarks for craft. Seeing which columnists are honored—and in what medium—helps writers understand what the organization values.

Because NSNC describes itself as serving columnists and serial-essay writers "in any medium," its recognition is not limited to print newspaper columns. Bloggers and online essayists fall within the stated scope, which is useful if your work appears primarily on the web.

How to Use the Awards Information

If you want to understand NSNC's standards or pursue recognition:

• Start with the homepage. Look for award announcements and honoree names to see the range of writers recognized.
• Check membership materials. The site promotes joining or renewing membership; members are often the first to receive award announcements and entry information.
• Attend an online event. NSNC runs sessions such as "Opinionated" with Clay Wirestone, priced at $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Events like these are a low-cost way to learn how the organization views opinion and column writing.
• Contact NSNC directly for the current award categories, deadlines, and submission process, since the public page evidence does not include them.

A Practical Example

Suppose you write a weekly opinion column on a local news site and want to know whether NSNC recognition is worth pursuing. You check the homepage, see that a columnist was recently honored, and note that the organization explicitly includes bloggers and online writers. You then join or renew membership to receive announcements, and you register for an online session to hear an opinion editor discuss the craft. From there, you ask NSNC for the award entry details. That sequence uses only what the site supports—recognition exists, membership and events are open—without assuming rules the page does not state.

Bottom Line

NSNC recognizes columnists through awards and publicizes honorees on its site, as shown by the Derrick Jackson announcement. The site confirms the fact of recognition but not the mechanics. For categories, criteria, and deadlines, treat the NSNC site and its membership/event channels as your entry points and confirm specifics with the organization.

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:

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.

NSNC's "Opinionated" session with Clay Wirestone is an online talk followed by a Q&A, held 7–8 PM EST and rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10. Tickets are $25 for NSNC members and $35 for non-members, or you can make a donation; registration runs through Eventbrite. The format suits writers who want a working opinion editor's view of the craft and a chance to ask questions, not a hands-on workshop.

What the Session Covers

Clay Wirestone is opinion editor at the Kansas City Reflector and the author of "Opinionated," his debut book released September 29. According to the NSNC announcement, he will discuss both his work as an opinion editor and the book, then take questions from members and guests. That combination makes the event useful on two levels: how opinion editing works day to day, and how a columnist turns that experience into a book.

How to Register and What to Expect

1. Go to the Eventbrite listing linked from the NSNC announcement and select the ticket type that matches your status — member or non-member.
2. Complete registration on Eventbrite; the session is delivered online, so plan to join at the scheduled start time.
3. Expect a talk segment first, then a Q&A. Bring one or two specific questions about opinion writing or editing to make the most of the format.

The main snag to watch for is the schedule change: the session was rescheduled to November 10, so confirm the date on the Eventbrite page before you plan around it. Ticket prices are stated in the announcement; check the listing for current availability.

Is It Worth Attending?

If you want to go further with the organization, NSNC also lists a fall mixer at 7 PM EST on October 28, a fall fundraising campaign, and membership join-or-renew options on its site.

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) is an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium. If you write a recurring opinion, humor, or feature column—or a blog in a similar voice—NSNC is the professional community built around that work. You can join or renew through the membership section of columnists.com, and members get access to NSNC's online programming, including conversations with working columnists and opinion editors.

Who NSNC is for

NSNC describes itself as an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium. That scope is broader than the name suggests:

• Newspaper and digital columnists
• Bloggers and newsletter writers who publish a recurring essay or opinion piece
• Writers of serial essays in any medium

If your work depends on a consistent voice and a regular publishing rhythm, the organization's focus matches your practice.

What membership gives you

Access to NSNC events and programming

NSNC runs online sessions that connect members with working columnists and editors. A current example from the site is "Opinionated" with Clay Wirestone, opinion editor at the Kansas City Reflector, discussing his work and his debut book Opinionated. The session includes a talk followed by a Q&A.

Pricing for that event is listed as $25 for NSNC members and $35 for non-members, or attendees can make a donation. This is a useful signal about the practical value of membership: member pricing on NSNC programming is lower than non-member pricing, so regular attendees recoup part of the cost.

A professional community

The site also highlights member recognition—for example, Derrick Jackson being honored with awards this season—and community events such as the NSNC Fall Mixer. These are the kinds of connections that matter for freelance and staff columnists alike: peers who understand the craft and the business of sustaining a regular column.

How to join or renew

The site's membership call to action is straightforward: "NSNC Membership – Join or renew today!" The membership section of columnists.com is the entry point for both new members and renewals.

A practical sequence:

1. Go to columnists.com and open the membership section.
2. Choose join (new member) or renew (existing member).
3. Complete the form and payment through the process provided there.
4. Once active, register for member-priced events—such as the "Opinionated" session—through the links NSNC publishes.

The site does not publish membership dues figures in the material available here, so check the membership page for current rates rather than assuming a price.

Is it worth joining?

Consider membership if you publish a recurring column or serial essay and want:

• Lower event pricing. Member tickets are $25 versus $35 for non-members on the "Opinionated" session—a $10 difference per event.
• Craft and career conversations. Sessions with opinion editors and columnists address the work itself, not just networking.
• A defined professional identity. NSNC's stated scope explicitly includes bloggers and writers in any medium, so digital-first writers are not an afterthought.

If you only occasionally read opinion writing and don't publish a serial essay, the non-member event option ($35, or a donation) lets you sample the programming without committing to membership.

Common questions

Do I need to work at a newspaper? No. NSNC's description explicitly includes bloggers and writers in any medium.

Can I attend events without joining? Yes—the "Opinionated" session lists a non-member price of $35 or a donation option.

How do I renew? Use the same membership section on columnists.com; the site presents join and renew as one action.

Where do I register for events? NSNC publishes registration links with each event announcement; the "Opinionated" session, for example, links to an Eventbrite registration page.

For current dues, event dates, and registration details, the membership and events sections of columnists.com are the authoritative sources.