A little reason to celebrate
National Newspaper Columnists Day
Hobby · April 18
A day for the newspaper columnists whose regular voices, opinions and observations readers follow week after week.
National Newspaper Columnists Day falls on Sunday, April 18, 2027. That is 173 days away.
A newspaper column is a piece of writing with a name and a face attached. Unlike a news story, which tries to keep the writer out of it, a column is built around one person's voice, appearing in the same spot on a regular schedule.
Columns come in many kinds. Some argue about local issues, some give advice, some review restaurants or books, and some simply describe ordinary life in a way that makes readers nod. Many readers turn to a favorite columnist first, before the front page, the way you might look for a familiar face in a crowd.
The form asks a lot of the writer. A columnist has to fill the same space again and again, on deadline, and still have something to say. Over years, readers come to know a columnist's habits, hobbyhorses and turns of phrase, and a good one can feel a bit like a neighbor you have never met.
Marking the day is mostly a matter of reading. Pick up a local paper or open its website and find the columns. Read one by a writer you already like and one by someone new. If a piece stays with you, a short note to the writer is usually welcome, since columnists hear plenty when readers disagree and less when they are pleased.
You could also try the form yourself. Write a few hundred words about something you noticed this week, with a clear point of view, and see how hard it is to stop at the word limit.
Ways to celebrate
- Read a column in your local newspaper from start to finish.
- Send a short thank-you note to a columnist you enjoy.
- Try a columnist you have never read before.
- Write your own short column about something you noticed this week.
- Share a favorite column with a friend and talk it over.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, April 18 |
| 2027 | Sunday, April 18 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, April 18 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, April 18 |
| 2030 | Thursday, April 18 |
Also on April 18
- National Animal Crackers Day
- National Piñata Day
- Pet Owners Independence Day
- National Velociraptor Awareness Day
- National Lineman Appreciation Day
Categories: Hobby days