Columnists to Meet in New Orleans for a 'Working Conference'

By: Dave Astor The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) plans to make its 2008 meeting an unusual working conference in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Annual NSNC gatherings -- such as the organization's 2004 conference in New Orleans -- include a busy schedule of workshops, panel discussions, guest speakers, and other events. Attendees may write columns during a typical NSNC meeting, but that's not necessarily the main intent.

But the 2008 meeting will be different. The plan is to have an opening session to hear from Times-Picayune of New Orleans journalists (including, the NSNC hopes, T-P columnist Chris Rose -- a 2006 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his memorable Hurricane Katrina commentary). And there will be the usual NSNC awards dinner.

"But we'll keep the conference stuff to a minimum," NSNC President Mike Argento told E&P today. "We'll spend the rest of the time finding columns and telling stories -- which is what we do."

The York (Pa.) Daily Record columnist did add that 2008 conference attendees, after roaming the city each day, would probably meet informally over dinner to discuss what they were finding. "It's always great to have people as a sounding board -- especially fellow columnists," said Argento.

While the conference is almost two years away, Argento noted that the slow recovery process in post-Katrina New Orleans means there'll still be plenty to write about. "Unfortunately, the city is still going to be hurting," he said.

Argento added that he has often heard about New Orleans residents saying "don't forget about us," and the NSNC presence will help in keeping attention focused on the hurricane/flood-ravaged city.

Times-Picayune columnist Sheila Stroup hosted the 2004 NSNC conference in New Orleans. Argento noted that Stroup has too much on her plate to do that again so soon, but The Advocate of Baton Rouge columnist Smiley Anders has agreed to chair the 2008 meeting.

Philadelphia is the site for the NSNC's 2007 meeting. The New Orleans gathering will probably be in June of 2008, but an exact date has not yet been set.

"The New Orleans conference has the potential to be something special," said Argento, adding that he can envision the NSNC holding its annual meeting in other newsworthy locales every now and then. That, he noted, "would be a service to our members and great for our craft."