New journalists and a new face
Editors take time to help student journalists understand the craft, and a photo editor joins the staff.
Too cool for school? Not true for HCN! Not only do we report the news, we’ve been taking the time to tell the next generation of journalists just how it’s done.
In early February, Associate Editor Emily Benson contributed to a panel discussion, via remote video, in a graduate-level class at Western Colorado University on High Country News’ approach to covering the climate crisis. Five days later, she gave another talk, in person this time, to University of Idaho undergraduates on science writing. She talked about her own path into journalism, what life is like at HCN (non-stop fun!), and how to translate technical scientific information for the general public. Around the same time, Assistant Editor Carl Segerstrom spoke to master’s students, scientists and conservationists at the University of Montana about environmental journalism and the importance of building understanding and mutual trust between scientists and science journalists.
If you notice the magazine looking especially fine — even better than usual — that might be because we have a new photo editor! We’re thrilled to welcome Roberto (Bear) Guerra to the staff. Bear, a longtime contributor to HCN, has 15 years’ experience as a documentary and journalism photographer. He and his wife, Contributing Editor Ruxandra Guidi, are based in Tucson.
Meanwhile, at our headquarters in Paonia, Colorado, two of our very own have published new books. Art Director Cindy Wehling assisted in the production of The North Fork in the ’90s, which features articles from The Valley Chronicle, the monthly newspaper formerly published by Cindy’s husband, Don Olsen — stories about rock ’n’ roll stars, forest fires and the quirky valley that HCN calls home. The other book comes from Executive Director Paul Larmer, who recently published a photo collection inspired by his extensive travels around the Western U.S.
And finally, a clarification: “The tangled web of the global oil market” (March 2020) failed to include sources. The data came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the International Energy Agency and Oil Change International. We regret the omission.
