Our Mission

High Country News is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) independent media organization that passionately and intelligently covers the important issues and stories unique to the American West. Our mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's land, air, water and inhabitants -- to create what Wallace Stegner called “a society to match the scenery.”

About us

High Country News publishes an award-winning newsmagazine, a popular Web site and a weekly op-ed column service, along with special reports and books. Through in-depth reporting, High Country News covers the American West's public lands, water, natural resources, grazing, wilderness, wildlife, logging, politics, communities, growth and other issues now changing the face of the West. From the Northern Rockies to the desert Southwest, from the Great Plains to the West Coast, High Country News’ coverage spans 11 Western states and is the leading source for regional environmental news, analysis and commentary, making it an essential resource for those who care about the West.

Founded in 1970 by Tom Bell, a Wyoming rancher and environmentalist, High Country News is now based in Paonia, Colorado. High Country News, the magazine, has 25,000 remarkable subscribers, including policymakers, educators, public land managers, environmental professionals, outdoor enthusiasts and thousands of other “people who care about the West.” The Web site attracts over 60,000 visitors each month. High Country News’ independent research and unique voice are supported largely by its devoted readership through subscriptions and contributions to the Research Fund.  Grant support, advertising and syndication sales make up the rest.

High Country News articles have been featured in The New York Times, Newsweek, Utne Reader, The Christian Science Monitor, The Navajo Times, The Boston Globe, Rolling Stone and USA Today. The Los Angeles Times describes High Country News as "the most influential environmental journal in the Mountain West." High Country News has received numerous journalism and environmental awards, including: 

• The 2008 Sidney Hillman Foundation Journalism Award for Ray Ring’s “Death in the Energy Fields.”
• The 2006 George Polk Award for Political Reporting for Ray Ring’s “Taking Liberties,”  which also won an American Planning Association Award (2007).
  
• The 2006 James V. Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism for Matt Jenkins’ “Squeezing Water from a Stone.”
  
• The 2006 Science Journalism Award from the American Association for Advancement of Science for Michelle Nijhuis’ “The Ghosts of Yosemite,”  “Save Our Snow,”  and “Dust and Snow.”
  
• The 2006 Utne Independent Press Award for Best Local/Regional Coverage.
• The 2006 Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award for Excellence in Reporting on Drug and Alcohol Problems for Angela Garcia’s “Land of Disenchantment.”
  

High Country News’ commitment to environmental stewardship, diversity and social responsibility gives an added resonance to this unique Western voice, through journalism that goes well beyond daily newspaper coverage. High Country News strives to inspire and engage readers to expand their own perspectives and accept the challenge of new stories and new ideas. As we increasingly embrace diversity in our organization, our journalistic work does a better job of representing a society that is home to many viewpoints, resulting in stories that reflect the reality of a society with many different perspectives. Only by doing so can we fulfill our mission and ensure that High Country News remains a relevant, engaging publication that is essential to all who care about the West.

Help keep us going

In order to continue we require support from our readers. Please consider subscribing to the magazine and making a donation to the Research Fund. We offer a number of subscription options, including a free 30-day trial which offers you complete access to the website for a limited time along with two free issues.

If you have any questions regarding subscriptions please contact our friendly in-house circulation staff or give them a call at 1-800-905-1155.