In a significant gathering held this September, the dedicated staff and board members of HCN, a leading voice in independent journalism focused on the American West, convened in the scenic splendor of Estes Park, Colorado, to recalibrate their vision and solidify strategic directives after another demanding year of in-depth reporting. The majestic setting, with aspen leaves painting the hillsides in hues of gold, elk roaming the grounds, and a delicate dusting of snow adorning the high peaks one crisp morning, provided a fitting backdrop for discussions centered on the region’s unique environmental and cultural landscapes that HCN tirelessly covers. This annual retreat serves not only as an operational checkpoint but also as a vital opportunity for reconnection and reaffirmation of the organization’s core mission to deliver impactful, community-focused journalism.

The convening commenced with the board’s critical fall business meeting, where a comprehensive overview of the forthcoming 2027 budget was presented by the management team. Projections indicate a measured increase in spending, moving from approximately $4.3 million in the current fiscal year to a little over $4.4 million for the next. This carefully planned budgetary expansion reflects HCN‘s commitment to investing in its most valuable assets: its people and its content. The most substantial allocations are earmarked for payroll, taxes, and benefits, collectively constituting a significant 58% of the year’s projected expenses. This highlights the organization’s dedication to attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive journalistic landscape, ensuring stability for its distributed team across the vast American West. Furthermore, the budget for freelance writers and photographers, comprising another 14% of annual spending, underscores HCN‘s reliance on diverse voices and specialized expertise to capture the multifaceted narratives of the region. The financial underpinning for these vital expenditures will be a diversified portfolio of funding, including generous donations, strategic grants, and robust "earned revenue" streams derived from loyal subscriber bases and judicious advertising sales, a model increasingly crucial for the sustainability of non-profit media in the contemporary era.

Mia Axon, HCN‘s acting director of philanthropy, emphasized that the bedrock of the organization’s financial resilience and overall strength lies squarely in the unparalleled generosity of its readership. Thousands of dedicated individuals contribute tax-deductible donations each year, often in addition to their regular subscriptions, demonstrating a profound commitment to sustaining independent environmental journalism. A recent analysis revealed an extraordinary testament to this loyalty: 750 individuals have consistently supported HCN for over two decades, with one remarkable reader extending their patronage annually for 36 consecutive years. This unwavering, stalwart support from individual donors proves particularly indispensable in an era where national foundations frequently find their resources stretched thin, often overwhelmed by the pressing need to shore up public media outlets and critical human services that have experienced significant erosion in public funding in recent years. This trend underscores the vital role of community-driven philanthropy in preserving diverse and specialized journalistic voices.

Further bolstering the organization’s positive trajectory, Gary Love, Director of Product & Marketing, proudly announced a commendable 3% growth in HCN‘s overall circulation last year, with expectations for this upward trend to continue. This expansion is a significant achievement in a media environment often characterized by declining readership, particularly for print publications. A key factor in this success is the organization’s exceptional subscriber retention rates, a testament to the quality and relevance of its content. A remarkable 45% of print subscribers have opted for the convenience and continuity of automatically renewing subscriptions, a figure that surges to over 80% for digital subscribers. This strategic shift towards auto-renewal significantly reduces administrative overhead and allows the organization to focus more resources on its core mission of reporting, rather than on annual renewal campaigns. This embrace of modern subscription management, coupled with the strategic pivot from traditional "direct mail" campaigns to email newsletters as the primary driver for attracting new subscribers, reflects HCN‘s agile adaptation to the evolving digital media landscape and its successful engagement with contemporary audiences.

In a pivotal update on the editorial direction, Kate Schimel, HCN‘s new editor-in-chief, alongside Executive Editor Gretchen King, articulated their concerted efforts to sharpen the publication’s focus on its unique strengths. As elaborated in the Editor’s Note, the core tenet of HCN‘s journalism will remain deeply rooted in the land and humanity’s intricate relationship with it. This renewed emphasis will lead to an even more concentrated editorial lens, specifically serving the often-underserved rural and Indigenous communities, as well as the vibrant small towns and burgeoning small cities that dot the American West. This strategic refinement aims to deepen the publication’s impact by providing essential reporting on critical issues such as resource management, environmental justice, land sovereignty, and cultural preservation—topics often overlooked by larger, more generalized news outlets. By championing these specific communities and their unique challenges, HCN solidifies its irreplaceable role in the regional media ecosystem, ensuring that vital stories from the heart of the West receive the thoughtful, in-depth coverage they deserve.

The remainder of the gathering was expertly facilitated by Daniel Student of the Potrero Group, guiding the staff and board through a series of introspective and forward-looking exercises designed to foster collaboration and strategic alignment. The sessions commenced with an engaging activity where each participant shared a significant positive transformation they had witnessed during their tenure at HCN. This exercise served as a powerful reminder of the substantial progress the organization has made, moving far beyond the days of bi-weekly magazine production hampered by outdated software and a circulation strategy heavily reliant on "direct mail" promotions offering inexpensive subscriptions. The contrast with today’s sophisticated digital engagement, where email newsletters stand as the primary engine for new subscriptions, highlighted a successful organizational evolution. Subsequently, attendees broke into smaller, focused groups to tackle persistent operational challenges, including optimizing communication and collaboration within a geographically dispersed remote workforce and mitigating the ubiquitous "curse" of excessive virtual meetings. The comprehensive workshop concluded with a preparatory exercise that effectively laid the groundwork for a broader strategic planning process, an ambitious undertaking that HCN will embark upon in the coming months to chart its course for sustained impact and growth in the years ahead. The success of this vital gathering was made possible through the generous support of HCN board members Jim Spencer and Mike Tansey, whose contributions were instrumental in facilitating the event.

Amidst these forward-looking discussions, the organization also paused to bid a fond farewell to Mary Zachman, HCN‘s dedicated finance and payroll administrator, whose tenure began in January 2019. Mary initially navigated her responsibilities from a modest cubbyhole within the bustling Paonia, Colorado, office. Over the ensuing years, as HCN‘s staff embraced a remote-first model, dispersing across the vast expanse of the Western United States, Mary’s role expanded exponentially, reflecting the growing complexity of managing a modern, distributed non-profit. Her responsibilities evolved to include the intricate task of establishing and filing taxes in an impressive 15 different states, a testament to her adaptability and diligence. Last year alone, she meticulously processed and dispatched 155 1099 forms to the organization’s extensive network of freelancers and contractors, nearly doubling the volume from her initial year. Through all these significant organizational shifts and increased demands, Mary consistently served as a calm, steady, and invaluable hand behind the scenes. She quietly ensured that every individual received timely compensation, accurately processed thousands of accounting transactions, and patiently, yet persistently, nudged colleagues to submit their credit card receipts, maintaining the financial integrity of the organization. Now, Mary is transitioning from her vital role at HCN to dedicate more time to her family and to pursue personal passions, including walking her beloved dogs through scenic landscapes, cultivating her vibrant garden, and indulging her talent for baking exquisite sourdough bread and bagels. The entire HCN community extends its deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment and wishes her immense joy and fulfillment in her next chapter.