High Country News (HCN)

About

High Country News started with a simple yet powerful vision. In 1970, Wyoming rancher Tom Bell saw the environmental challenges of the West and decided to take a stand. From a gritty black-and-white tabloid, HCN has grown into a distinguished media voice, dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage and insights of the Western United States.
What sets HCN apart is its dedication to uncovering the complexities of the West. It’s not just about landscapes and geography; it’s about the people, the communities, and the ever-changing interactions between human and non-human environments. HCN’s writers have shed light on the diverse natural and human communities, dispelling myths and stereotypes that often overshadow the region’s true essence.

Important: Pitch first.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 1970

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: Published 365 x per year
Print Publication Print Publication: Published 22 x per year

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

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Expand section Fiction Closed

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: People in a specific region.

Lengths:

Review: No specific word count limits known.
Article: No specific word count limits known.
Essay: No specific word count limits known.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Nature/Environment: See guidelines.
Place/Regions: Specific region.

Payment:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $1.00/word for reported content; $0.50/word for essays and reviews.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Visual Art Open

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: People in a specific region.

Lengths:

Photo Essay: No image limits known.

Art Media:

Photography.

Art Styles:

Open to all/most Art Styles.

Topics:

Nature/Environment: See guidelines.
Place/Regions: Specific region.

Payment:

Unknown payment Unknown payment.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Media: Image.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

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High Country News Submission Statistics

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We have not received any submission reports for this listing in the past 12 months.

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Dates

Last Updated: 24 Aug 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.