Pitches wanted (western US) | 50 cents to $1 per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: HIGH COUNTRY NEWS

Kate Schimel, News and Investigations Editor at High Country News, is looking for pitches:

Call for pitches: Looking for quick-turn stories that offer insight on the news of the moment/day/week/month. Pay: $1/word for reporting + 50 cents/word for essay/perspective. Also looking for visual-driven storytelling (photos, illos, comics, etc.).

In general, I’m looking for: Stories that complicate our understanding of the world. Journalism that connects issues to people’s lives. Work by and for the communities it’s about.

A brief, NOT comprehensive list of topics I'm looking for: Stories from Black, AAPI, Latino communities Money and power in politics, climate futures, criminal justice, landback, recreation, environmental justice, immigration/migration

What I’d like to see in a pitch: Who does this issue impact and how? How will I represent those impacted in my work? How will this story serve them? Why now? What am I going to produce? Profile, data-driven visualization, explainer etc.

I can cover or at least help support expenses, depending on the project. Generally looking for 400-1200 words if it’s a written piece. I would like to hear from you if the rate won't work; depending on other resources available (grants etc.) I can sometimes push up the rate.

A little bit about High Country News: It covers the western United States and is particularly interested in people’s connection to the place they live and how they experience it. If you haven’t written for us before, this is a great way to get your foot in.

I also commission in-depth investigative work. I have bandwidth for one or maybe two more robust investigative projects this year. Pitch me or book time during my investigative office hours: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/

FYI those office hours are for anyone with investigative ideas or problems whether you want to pitch HCN or not. Getting time with an editor is critical to getting investigative work off the ground and I know a lot of people aren't getting that time. I'm available!

CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

• Submissions: kateschimel@hcn.org
• Website: https://www.hcn.org/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: High Country News is an independent, non-profit media organization that covers the important issues and stories that define the Western United States. Its mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities. More information here.
• Read through a selection of recent feature stories/articles on its website.
• Review the submission guidelines here. Note that these are the publication's general guidelines to help you refine your pitch. You must still follow the editor's specific instructions above.
• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook Database and at SuccessfulPitches.com.
• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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