High Country News

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Journalism, Essays, Reviews, Analysis, Interviews. Official guideline: High Country News guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Short-form reported stories of 650–2,500 words on conservation, housing, wildfire, transportation, recreation, climate change and Indigenous affairs.
• Essays about life in the West, 600–2,500 words. They prefer to read a full draft of an essay rather than a pitch, because essays are hard to judge from a pitch.
• Features of 2,500–8,000 words that are deeply reported, with a well-researched pitch and a realistic reporting plan.

Subjects they avoid

• Phone calls — the guidelines ask for none.
• Pitches with no reporting plan behind them.

Key requirements

• Email pitches@hcn.org
• Reporting plan for features
• Full draft preferred for essays

Who can submit

No nationality restriction stated. The subject matter is the American West, so the work needs a genuine connection to the region rather than the writer needing one.

Rights

Not stated on the submissions page.

AI policy

Not stated in the guideline

How to write for them

Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.

BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.

How to pitch

Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Email pitch to pitches@hcn.org

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Email pitch to pitches@hcn.org
• Submission email: pitches@hcn.org

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Read https://www.hcn.org/submissions/ and recent coverage to find the section you fit.
• For essays, write the draft — they would rather read it than a pitch.
• Email pitches@hcn.org. No phone calls.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Not stated

If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.