High Country News (HCN), a venerable independent media institution renowned for its incisive coverage of the American West, has unveiled a significant restructuring of its editorial leadership, appointing Kate Schimel as its new editor-in-chief and expanding Gretchen King’s responsibilities as executive editor. This strategic leadership transition follows the recent departure of Jennifer Sahn, signaling a renewed commitment to rigorous environmental journalism, community-driven narratives, and innovative journalistic practices across the vast and diverse Western landscape. The dual appointments of Schimel and King represent a powerful combination of visionary editorial direction and robust operational expertise, poised to guide HCN through an era of unprecedented environmental challenges and evolving media consumption habits. Their collaborative leadership is expected to strengthen HCN‘s position as a vital voice in reporting on critical issues, from climate change impacts and land use conflicts to Indigenous sovereignty and the intricate human-environment relationships defining the region.

Kate Schimel, an accomplished journalist with a deep understanding of the West’s complex socio-environmental fabric, assumes the pivotal role of editor-in-chief, marking her third significant engagement with High Country News. Her journey with the publication began in 2015 as an intern, swiftly progressing to assistant editor within the same year. During her initial four-year tenure, Schimel proved instrumental in shaping HCN‘s editorial focus, notably by helping to establish and grow its Indigenous affairs reporting team—a crucial area for nuanced storytelling in a region with a rich and often fraught history. She also spearheaded comprehensive coverage of critical topics such as grazing practices and the multifaceted debates surrounding public-land use, consistently challenging conventional narratives and prioritizing in-depth investigative work. Her leadership was particularly evident in the conceptualization and execution of HCN‘s special issue on recreation’s power and perils, published on May 14, 2018. This seminal work delved into the profound impacts of outdoor recreation on Western landscapes and communities, exploring its economic benefits, ecological footprint, and social implications. Schimel’s ability to blend investigative rigor with a keen eye for compelling human narratives became a hallmark of her early contributions.

Her career trajectory then took her into the dynamic world of local news, where she further honed her editorial prowess and broadened her journalistic scope. At Colorado Public Radio, Schimel notably edited a national award-winning investigation into teen suicide, demonstrating her capacity for sensitive yet impactful reporting on public health crises. She also played a leading role in guiding CPR’s extensive coverage of the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating the rapidly evolving information landscape and ensuring the delivery of critical, community-focused news during a period of immense uncertainty. This experience underscored her leadership in crisis reporting and commitment to public service journalism. Subsequently, Schimel transitioned to the investigative news nonprofit Searchlight New Mexico and the Southern New Mexico News Collaborative, where she continued to champion in-depth reporting on underreported issues, further solidifying her reputation as a formidable force in regional journalism. Her return to HCN in 2022 as news and investigations editor brought a wealth of diverse experience, reinforcing the publication’s commitment to holding power accountable and uncovering hidden truths. Born and raised amidst the dramatic landscapes of Colorado’s Front Range, Schimel’s deep roots in the West inform her understanding and passion for the region. She pursued her higher education at Reed College in Portland, an institution known for fostering critical thinking and intellectual rigor, before residing in Washington and New Mexico. Today, she makes her home in Bozeman, Montana, a vibrant hub of outdoor activity and environmental discourse, alongside her husband, Ethan Linck, their daughter, and a lively border collie. This personal connection to the landscapes and communities of the West will undoubtedly continue to infuse her editorial vision for High Country News, ensuring its continued relevance and resonance with readers who share a similar bond with the region. Her leadership promises to continue HCN‘s legacy of fearless journalism, coupled with a forward-looking approach to covering defining issues.

Complementing Schimel’s editorial vision, Gretchen King assumes expanded duties as executive editor, a role recognizing her long-standing and indispensable contributions to HCN‘s operational excellence and strategic development. King has been a foundational presence at the publication for years, often serving as the meticulous force ensuring the seamless flow of editorial processes and the timely delivery of content—a critical function in any publishing environment. Her journey to HCN began in 2007 when she, her husband Mike, and son Riley, relocated to Paonia, Colorado, where they initially established a microbrewery near HCN‘s office. However, King’s academic background and professional experience, including a master’s degree in communications from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and years as a journalism instructor, hinted at a natural alignment with the publication’s mission. It took a few years, but HCN successfully enticed King to join its ranks in 2014 as community engagement coordinator, a role that leveraged her innate ability to connect with audiences and foster meaningful interactions. Since then, her versatility and strategic acumen have seen her fill a variety of crucial roles across the organization, demonstrating an impressive breadth of capabilities. She has been instrumental in spearheading multiple website redesigns, ensuring that HCN‘s digital presence remains cutting-edge, accessible, and user-friendly—a vital component for reaching a broader, digitally native audience. Furthermore, King has meticulously overseen HCN‘s highly regarded intern and fellowship programs, nurturing the next generation of environmental journalists and ensuring a pipeline of diverse talent committed to rigorous reporting on Western issues. Her operational leadership ensures HCN‘s editorial engine runs smoothly, allowing journalists to focus on investigative storytelling and impactful reporting without logistical impediments. Raised in Grand Junction, Colorado, King now resides in Gunnison, a community celebrated for its exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities, situated at one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River. This personal connection to the region’s natural resources and recreational lifestyle further enriches her understanding of issues central to HCN‘s mission, reinforcing her dedication to the publication’s strategic objectives.

Together, Kate Schimel and Gretchen King form a formidable leadership team, combining distinct yet complementary strengths that promise to propel High Country News into a new era of impact and relevance. Schimel brings a clear, compelling vision for HCN‘s future, one deeply rooted in the principles of rigorous reporting, a profound understanding of community needs, and a steadfast commitment to real-world impact. Her focus will be on the "what"—the stories, the angles, the investigative depths that define HCN‘s unique editorial voice. King, as the master of HCN‘s intricate editorial processes and organizational infrastructure, embodies the "how." She ensures that the editorial "trains"—and, crucially, the meticulously crafted copy—not only run on time but do so with efficiency and precision. This symbiotic relationship, where visionary editorial direction meets flawless execution, is crucial for navigating contemporary media complexities while delivering high-quality, impactful journalism. Their combined leadership is poised to strengthen HCN‘s capacity to illuminate the pressing issues facing the American West and foster a more informed and engaged citizenry.

Beyond its internal leadership transitions, High Country News continues to champion collaborative journalism initiatives, exemplified by the Western Environmental Reporting Collaborative (WERC), a groundbreaking partnership designed to amplify critical environmental reporting across the region. Billy Arnold, HCN‘s newly appointed partnerships editor, recently traveled to New Orleans for the annual gathering of Report for America, a national program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms to address critical information gaps. There, Arnold connected with the inaugural cohort of four WERC reporters: Stephanie Casanova of Arizona Luminaria, Teal Davis of Wyoming Public Media, Nick Mott of Mountain Journal/Montana Free Press, and Chart Riggall of the Ouray County Plaindealer. Despite the geographical challenges of converging in the "Big Easy" from their far-flung Western locales, the gathering fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas and aspirations for WERC. These dedicated journalists are already delving into pressing environmental and social issues confronting the American West. Their reporting spans a wide spectrum, from the nuanced complexities of gray wolf reintroduction and management, often igniting passionate debates, to the critical examination of grazing practices within fire-scarred landscapes, central to sustainable land management in an era of increasing wildfires. WERC reporters are also providing essential coverage of the continuing conflicts surrounding border wall construction, analyzing its ecological impacts, human rights implications, and the profound changes it brings to border communities. Furthermore, they closely track ongoing disagreements and negotiations between the Colorado River Basin states, an intensifying struggle over water rights and resource allocation in a region grappling with chronic drought and climate change. This collaborative model, supported by Report for America, underscores a vital trend in contemporary journalism: strengthening local news ecosystems by pooling resources and expertise to deliver high-quality, in-depth reporting on issues of regional and national significance. Readers can access this impactful reporting directly on the websites of these esteemed home publications or through a dedicated section on HCN‘s platform.

In a proactive effort to deepen its connection with the communities it serves and to remain acutely responsive to the evolving needs of the American West, High Country News is embarking on an ambitious year-long "listening tour." This initiative is particularly pertinent as Western communities experience rapid, often unprecedented, changes driven by climate shifts, population growth, resource pressures, and economic transformations. Concurrently, the news industry itself is undergoing a tumultuous transformation, grappling with financial challenges, technological disruptions, and a shifting media landscape. Recognizing these dual dynamics, the High Country News staff and board commit to directly engaging with people living and working in the West. The tour aims to solicit direct feedback on the most pressing issues individuals and communities face, and how HCN can best support their efforts to drive positive change. This comprehensive series of road trips will take HCN representatives to the near and far corners of the vast Western region, facilitating intimate gatherings in local community halls, beloved watering holes, public parks, and other cherished gathering places. The goal is to foster genuine