How to check for nulls and empty values when creating a view column in sql

I have a view and want to add a column that basically checks if some columns are null. Here is my sql script for this column 

(CASE WHEN `pr`.`SPONSOR` IS NULL  OR `pr`.`SPONSOR` =""
       THEN 0
       ELSE 1
		END)
        +
        (CASE WHEN `pr`.`POINT_OF_CONTACT` IS NULL OR `pr`.`POINT_OF_CONTACT` = ""
       		THEN 0
       		ELSE 1
		END
        )
        +
        (CASE WHEN `pr`.`POINT_OF_CONTACT` IS NULL OR `pr`.`POINT_OF_CONTACT` = ""
       		THEN 0
       		ELSE 1
		END
        )
        +
        (CASE WHEN `pr`.`NEED_CONFIRMED` IS NULL
       		THEN 0
       		ELSE 1
		END
        )

The problem is that it always adds the values even if doesn't have one. For example  SPONSOR is set to take in nulls in the table and set to have null as default value. However, in the view it doesn't say null, it just has no value. I assume this is why it assumes is not null and counts it as 1. Any suggestion to account for both null and empty values?