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Thanks for your interest in writing for High Country News. We’re glad you’re here. Much of our content is contributed by freelancers — features, reportage, essays, analysis, news and opinion, photography and art — and we would love to have our socks knocked off by your pitch. To facilitate a great pitching experience, we ask that you take the time to read through to the end of this page to learn more about who we are and how to submit.

High Country News covers the West in all its complexity. We seek diverse narratives and original reporting that help illuminate the wonders and challenges of living in the Western U.S. in the 21st century. Our stories tend to be rooted in place, and they often fall at or near the intersection of social and environmental issues, while also fitting into one or more of our five main coverage areas: climate change; land, waters and wildlife; Indigenous affairs; justice and equity; and Western life, culture and politics.

Expect us to consider your pitch with the following questions in mind: Has the writer shown a good grasp of the subject matter? Is the community most affected by the story centered in the narrative? What is the reporting plan? Is there a plan to include diverse and divergent perspectives (both in the story and as sources)? Does the writer have any connections in or with the community being reported on? Have we been given a sense of the style and voice of the writer? Has this story been told before?

Before you approach us, please familiarize yourself with our work and consider how your story helps illuminate an unknown or underreported facet of the Western United States and its people and communities, both human and ecological. And please note that, with the exception of essays, we prefer to review story pitches rather than completed drafts.

What we publish:

  • News, analysis and opinion several times a week online. Through short-form web stories, we aim to help readers understand how current events affect their lives in the Western U.S. and inform decision-making. We also publish essays, reviews and culture pieces and multimedia stories, as well as the occasional feature, as online exclusives.
  • Short-form reported stories ranging from 650 to 2,500 words that cover a wide variety of topics, from conservation, housing and wildfire to transportation, recreation and climate change. We also publish short-form accountability reporting on private entities, public agencies and municipalities. We look for unique place-based stories that have largely gone underreported and fit into one or more of our five main coverage areas: climate change; land, waters and wildlife; Indigenous affairs; justice and equity; and Western life, culture and politics.
  • Essays about life in the West. These range in length from 600 to 2,500 words, with occasional exceptions made for longer essays. We prefer to consider drafts of essays, as they are difficult to assess though the pitching process. The most successful essays elicit empathy or deliver surprise, and we especially love pieces that spark wonder.
  • Q&As with people who are driving culture, innovation, justice and positive change in the communities we cover. The majority of our Q&As are short-form, though we do consider feature-length interviews and roundtable conversations.
  • Culture stories, from profiles of notable Westerners to coverage of museum exhibits, artists and artisans, gardens and food, music and literature. We look for stories that capture the diverse cultures, ideas and ideals, myths and realities, hopes and dreams and critical tipping points currently at play in the American West.
  • Long-form features, including narrative nonfiction, interviews and profiles. Our features range from 2,500 to 8,000 words and are deeply reported. We look for pitches that are well-researched and provide a realistic reporting plan, are written with style and voice, and reveal something notable or novel about science, conservation, climate change, Indigenous sovereignty, the pursuit of justice and equity or other subjects germane to life in the West. While our features do not need to be based entirely in the Western U.S., they should engage with issues of importance to the region.
  • Investigations of varying lengths and scope, focused on exposing wrongdoings from the historical to the present moment. We seek investigations that have the potential to effect change on public policy and public discourse. For investigative pitches, please include a detailed reporting plan as well as a list of potential impacts.
  • Visual features, ranging from photojournalism to portfolios of artwork and the occasional graphic nonfiction story. The imagery in our visual features is the driving force behind the story, with text playing a supporting role. We look for visual features that can tell a good story thorugh imagery while highlighting the diverse human and ecological communities of the Western U.S.
  • Reviews of current and forthcoming books, film, TV, plays, museum exhibits, podcasts, performing arts and other artistic endeavors that seek to question myths and articulate the realities of living in the West today. We like criticism of current works but are also up for revisiting an older work if a writer has something new to say about it.
  • Photography and illustration that portray the diverse communities and landscapes of the Western United States with nuance and originality. To be considered for assignments, please send a brief message about yourself, with a link to your online portfolio. Please do not send unsolicited stock imagery for licensing consideration. If you are interested in being considered for image licensing, please sign up for our monthly newsletter, in which we highlight our stock image needs, by emailing photos@hcn.org.

Please note: We do not currently review unsolicited poetry.

What we don’t publish:

  • scientific studies
  • stories by writers who show no prior knowledge of, or history of living in, the West
  • stories that sideline underserved and marginalized communities or perpetuate harmful clichés and stereotypes
  • stories that are not centrally about the Western United States or an issue of importance to the region
  • stories that have already been well and widely covered by other outlets, whether local or national

The majority of our coverage is rooted in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Indian Country across the Western U.S.

If you’ve made it this far and are ready to submit, please direct your correspondence thusly:

No phone calls, please.

HCN pays $1/word for reported content and .50/word for essays and reviews. Our rates are the same whether the material is published in print, online or both. For story forms other than straight text, we base our rates on the equivalent amount of reported textual material. Please understand that we are a small staff marshaling a large amount of content on a weekly basis. If you don’t hear back from us within two weeks, feel free to check in. If you don’t hear back in four weeks, your piece is most likely not a good fit for us.

Also: We appreciate a heads-up if you are making a simultaneous submission, as well as the courtesy of letting us know if a story you have pitched us has been accepted elsewhere. HCN purchases first North American serial rights and syndication rights for 180 days.

Thank you for making it to the bottom of our submissions page! We appreciate your diligence. If you still have questions, please direct them to pitches@hcn.org.

Revised April 2024