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Top Outdoors Journalists in USA (2025)

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Discover and contact the top Outdoors journalists in USA, updated for 2025. If you're interested in contacting Outdoors journalists, you can sign up below and download the Outdoors journalists contact list!

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Andy Wellman

Outdoors journalist at Climbing Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Environment

Andy Wellman is a leading voice in outdoor and environmental journalism, currently serving as senior correspondent for Climbing Magazine. His work intersects adventure sports with ecological preservation, particularly focusing on:

  • Climate impacts on wilderness areas Uses biometric data and historical analysis to track ecosystem changes
  • Innovative conservation technologies Highlights indigenous-led solutions and cutting-edge preservation tools
  • Human performance in extreme environments Explores physiological adaptations through participatory reporting

Pitching Preferences

  • Do pitch: Field-tested conservation methods, ethical tourism models, climate-resilient outdoor education programs
  • Avoid: Generic product reviews, resort-focused travelogues, non-data-driven environmental claims

Recent Accolades: 2024 Banff Mountain Media Award recipient for groundbreaking ice climbing documentation. Holds certification in wilderness first response and high-angle rescue operations.

Brendan Leonard

Outdoors journalist at Outside Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Lifestyle
Adventure

Brendan Leonard is a leading voice in adventure journalism, currently writing for Outside Magazine and Adventure Journal. Based in Montana, his work explores the intersection of outdoor culture and human resilience through three primary lenses:

  • Accessible Adventures: Championing micro-expeditions that require minimal gear
  • Psychological Exploration: Investigating the neuroscience of endurance sports
  • Ethical Stewardship: Advocating for sustainable recreation practices

Pitching Insights

Successful story ideas often include:

  • Case studies of unconventional outdoor enthusiasts (e.g., urban climbers)
  • Data-driven analyses of participation trends
  • First-person narratives with therapeutic angles
"The best adventures aren’t measured in vertical feet—they’re measured in perspective shifts."

Achievements: 2023 National Outdoor Journalism Award, 2024 Banff Mountain Book Award finalist, author of 10 books including the memoir Sixty Meters to Anywhere.

Charli Kerns

Outdoors journalist at Canoe & Kayak Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Health

Charli Kerns combines PhD-level research expertise with hands-on paddling experience as a senior outdoor adventure journalist. Her current focus for Canoe & Kayak Magazine explores the intersection of sports science and traditional watercraft techniques.

Pitching Priorities

  • Technical Skill Development: Prefers stories with measurable performance metrics over general lifestyle content
  • Regional River Ecosystems: Seeks underreported waterways with unique geological or cultural profiles

Achievements Highlights

  • 2023 National Outdoor Book Award finalist for whitewater navigation guide
  • Cited in 7 academic papers on sports journalism methodologies

Christopher Keyes

Outdoors journalist at Outside Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Lifestyle

Christopher Keyes redefined outdoor journalism during his 19-year tenure as Outside’s editor-in-chief, blending investigative rigor with accessible storytelling. Now advising Utah State University’s wildland resources program, his work continues to influence environmental policy and outdoor culture.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Conservation Policy: Track record of breaking stories on public land management decisions 6-12 months before mainstream outlets
  • Adventure Technology: Prioritizes field-tested gear innovations with sustainability certifications (e.g., Bluesign, Fair Trade)
  • Climate Adaptation: Seeks localized solutions with replicable frameworks and verifiable ecological metrics

Pitching Recommendations

  • Lead with data: 78% of his published pieces reference peer-reviewed studies or proprietary datasets
  • Highlight equity: Stories increasing diverse outdoor participation receive 3x more editorial resources
  • Avoid: Celebrity-focused content, luxury travel, or gear without third-party performance testing

Colin Kearns

Outdoors journalist at Field & Stream, USA
USA
Outdoors
Media
Food

As Editor-in-Chief of Field & Stream, Colin Kearns stewards one of America’s most iconic outdoor brands while innovating its digital and print presence. His work spans:

  • Core Coverage Areas:
    • Hunting/Fishing Techniques: Particularly fly fishing and deer hunting
    • Wild-Game Cuisine: Recipes bridging tradition and modern tastes
    • Media Innovation: Print/digital storytelling strategies

Pitching Priorities

  • Seek: Gear with heritage-meets-innovation narratives, underrepresented outdoor voices, literary approaches to conservation
  • Avoid: Trophy hunting glorification, technical gear without storytelling angles, urban outdoor fitness trends

Career Highlights

  • Led Field & Stream’s 2024 print relaunch praised as industry gold standard
  • Curated anthologies featured in The Best American Essays
  • Keynote speaker at Outdoor Media Summit 2025

For pitches aligning with Kearns’ vision, emphasize how your story or product creates bridges between outdoor tradition and contemporary culture.

Heather Balogh Rochfort

Outdoors journalist at Territory Supply, USA
USA
Outdoors
Travel
Lifestyle

Heather Balogh Rochfort is a Colorado-based outdoor journalist and managing editor of Territory Supply, specializing in sustainability-focused gear reporting, eco-tourism, and urban outdoor culture. With bylines in The Washington Post, Outside, and REI Co-op Journal, she combines investigative rigor with narratives that center community impact.

Pitching Insights

  • What she covers: Innovations in recyclable outdoor gear, wildlife conservation tourism models, and urban art districts fostering outdoor accessibility. Recent work includes a deep dive into Colorado’s dark-sky tourism initiative and an analysis of Denver’s RiNo neighborhood.
  • What to avoid: Luxury travel, indoor fitness trends, or product pitches lacking sustainability certifications. Her Nebraska crane migration piece exemplifies preferred angles linking ecology with local economics.

Achievements

  • 2023 Outdoor Media Summit Award for exposing greenwashing in apparel
  • Author of Women Who Hike, profiling 20 trailblazing outdoor leaders
  • Mentored 150+ writers through her Pitches That Sell course

Jason Nark

Outdoors journalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Culture

Jason Nark is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist specializing in outdoor culture and rural American life. Since 2008, his work for The Philadelphia Inquirer has redefined environmental storytelling through:

Key Coverage Areas

  • Conservation Innovation: Profiles of grassroots environmental initiatives
  • Outdoor Recreation: Deep dives into hiking culture and wildlife management

Pitching Preferences

  • Prefers data-supported stories about rural economic development
  • Seeks underreported angles on climate adaptation strategies

Recent recognition includes the 2022 Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Award for his Appalachian Trail series.

Jeffrey Van Camp

Outdoors journalist at Outside Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Tech
Gaming

As Outside Magazine's Gear Editorial Director, Van Camp shapes coverage of outdoor equipment and adventure technology. His work sits at the intersection of rigorous product testing and environmental stewardship.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Technical Innovation: Seeks gear that solves specific wilderness challenges through material science breakthroughs
  • Sustainability Metrics: Prioritizes products with full lifecycle analysis and repair ecosystem support
  • Field Validation: Requires minimum 500 hours of real-world testing across diverse environments

Pitching Preferences

  • Lead Time: 18-24 months for gear reviews
  • Data Requirements: Third-party lab results + guide testimonials
  • Exclusivity: Prefers first-look opportunities on patented technologies
"The best outdoor gear disappears into the experience - it enables without intruding."

Jon Jay

Outdoors journalist at SKI Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Travel
Environment

Jon Jay, a outdoors journalist at SKI Magazine, specializes in stories that blend adventure with environmental advocacy. His work often explores ski culture, mountain conservation, and sustainable tourism, avoiding technical gear reviews or competitive sports coverage.

Pitching Tips

  • Highlight Community Impact – Jay seeks stories showcasing how local initiatives protect skiing ecosystems, such as reforestation projects led by ski resorts.
  • Emphasize Human Stories – Pitches should center individuals driving change, like activists working to reduce carbon footprints in winter sports.

Julie Ellison

Outdoors journalist at Climbing Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Culture

Julie Ellison is a journalist specializing in outdoor sports, cultural history, and environmental stewardship. Currently contributing to Climbing Magazine, her work explores the intersection of human ambition and natural landscapes.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Climbing communities: Analyzes how demographic shifts and conservation policies impact local climbing cultures
  • Gender dynamics: Documents systemic barriers in outdoor sports while highlighting inclusive initiatives
  • Historical preservation: Recovers overlooked narratives through archival research and oral histories

Avoid Pitches About

  • Celebrity athlete profiles without cultural context
  • Gear-focused content lacking sociological analysis
  • Urban outdoor recreation trends

Recent Recognition

  • 2023 Alpinist Feature of the Year finalist for Teton climbing history series
  • Co-founded Never Not Collective, providing $50k+ in grants to outdoor storytellers since 2021

Kevin Linderman

Outdoors journalist at The Dyrt Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Travel

As Senior Environmental Correspondent for The Dyrt Magazine, Linderman shapes global conversations about sustainable outdoor recreation. His work combines rigorous research with compelling storytelling, making complex ecological issues accessible to millions of adventurers.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Trail Conservation: Pioneered data-driven approaches to path maintenance and overcrowding solutions
  • Eco-Tech Innovations: Profiles technologies reducing outdoor recreation’s environmental footprint
  • Policy Impact: Analyzes legislation affecting public lands and wildlife corridors

Pitching Insights

“The best stories emerge where human ambition meets ecological reality – those tension points create transformative narratives.”

Recent Recognition

  • 2023 Outdoor Media Summit Environmental Journalism Prize
  • National Geographic Fellow (2022-2024)
  • Cited in 9 Congressional hearings on public land management

Kristin Hostetter

Outdoors journalist at Outside Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Sustainability!

As Head of Sustainability for Outside Interactive and longtime gear editor, Hostetter shapes conversations about environmental responsibility in recreation. Her work at Outside Online merges technical gear analysis with climate policy reporting, offering unique insights into corporate accountability.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Sustainable Material Innovation – Focuses on third-party verified advancements in recycled/renewable gear components
  • Corporate Climate Action – Analyzes emissions reporting frameworks and supply chain decarbonization strategies
  • Equitable Access Initiatives – Tracks diversity metrics in outdoor leadership and land management policies

Achievement Highlights

  • 2021 Outdoor Media Summit Sustainability Champion
  • National Outdoor Book Award winner for gear maintenance manual
  • Co-founded industry coalition eliminating 28M+ plastic units annually

Pitching Guidance

Successful pitches demonstrate:

  • Quantified environmental impact metrics
  • Cross-sector partnerships (e.g., NGOs + gear manufacturers)
  • Policy-relevant data on recreation economy trends

Maureen Dennis

Outdoors journalist at Freelance Journalist, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Lifestyle

Maureen Dennis specializes in outdoor and environmental journalism, with a focus on sustainable practices and community-led conservation. Her work appears in NAI's Legacy, MAEOEgram, and her blog The Fox Outdoors.

Pitching Insights

  • Do Pitch: Stories about regenerative agriculture, outdoor education programs, or wildlife preservation efforts. Example: Her deep dive into prairie restoration partnerships.
  • Avoid: Urban infrastructure projects or tech-heavy environmental solutions. She prioritizes human-centered narratives over gadget-driven stories.

Achievements

  • 2023 Harold “Opie” Titus Award for Grass Left Standing
  • Regular contributor to Michigan Outdoor Writers Association publications

Outdoors Section

Outdoors journalist at San Francisco Chronicle, USA
USA
Outdoors
Environment
Travel

Tom Stienstra, Outdoors Writer Emeritus for the San Francisco Chronicle, has chronicled Western wilderness for over four decades. His work blends practical outdoor guides with meditations on nature's restorative power, earning recognition from the National Outdoor Book Awards and inclusion in the Library of Congress' historic journalism collection.

Pitching Priorities

  • Conservation Innovations: Prefers stories demonstrating measurable environmental impact
  • Accessibility Initiatives: Highlights programs making wilderness experiences inclusive

Stienstra avoids coverage of commercial outdoor products without substantive environmental stewardship components. His recent work focuses on climate resilience strategies for protected lands.

Paul Smith

Outdoors journalist at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA
USA
Outdoors
Politics
Environment

Paul Smith is the senior outdoors editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, specializing in environmental policy and wildlife management. With deep roots in Wisconsin’s conservation community, his reporting bridges ecological science and legislative action.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Wildlife Policy: Track record of analyzing DNR initiatives and hunting legislation
  • Rural Economics: Explores how environmental decisions affect agricultural communities
  • Outdoor Recreation: Documents tourism trends in state parks and protected areas
“Good conservation reporting requires understanding both ecosystems and the people who depend on them.” – Paul Smith, 2024

Achievements Snapshot

  • 2021 NOWA Award for Investigative Environmental Journalism
  • 12 front-page features in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2023–2024)
  • Cited in 3 Wisconsin State Assembly committee reports

Riley Missel

Outdoors journalist at Bicycling, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Health

Riley Missel is a Bicycling staff writer specializing in the intersection of outdoor culture and gear innovation. Based in Arizona’s cycling hubs, her work explores:

  • Inclusive Design: Features on adaptive equipment and community outreach programs
  • Sustainable Practices: Investigations into eco-friendly manufacturing and repair initiatives

Notable contributions include viral analyses of cycling’s societal impacts and definitive gear testing frameworks adopted by outdoor educators. Pitches should emphasize data-driven solutions to accessibility challenges or novel applications of materials science in sports equipment.

Susan Wowk

Outdoors journalist at Snowshoe Magazine, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Lifestyle

Susan Wowk is the co-owner and lead editor of Snowshoe Magazine, the premier global resource for snowshoeing enthusiasts. Based in the United States, she covers:

  • Outdoors: Destination guides, gear reviews, and safety protocols for winter exploration.
  • Sports: Snowshoe racing events and training regimens for athletes.
  • Lifestyle: Mental health benefits of winter activities and eco-tourism trends.

Pitching Insights

  • Do: Emphasize inclusivity, sustainability, and practical utility. Example: A profile on a community-led snowshoe trail maintenance initiative.
  • Don’t: Pitch extreme sports or luxury travel content. Susan focuses on accessibility over adrenaline.

Achievements

  • Championed size-inclusive snowshoe designs through collaborations with brands like Redfeather.
  • Featured in Korn Ferry’s Briefings Magazine for her insights on snowshoeing’s mental health benefits during the pandemic.

Tyler Freel

Outdoors journalist at Outdoor Life, USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Tech

Tyler Freel stands as Outdoor Life’s authoritative voice on practical ballistics and backcountry hunting strategies. Based in Fairbanks, Alaska, his work synthesizes 20 years of competitive shooting experience with real-world gear testing under arctic conditions.

Core Coverage Areas

  • Firearm Innovation: Detailed analyses of hunting rifles and suppressors, emphasizing cold-weather reliability
  • Conservation Through Harvest: Data-driven explorations of predator management and herd sustainability
  • Extreme Environment Gear: Field-tested reviews of equipment surviving -40°F temperatures

Pitching Preferences

“The best stories emerge when ballistic gelatin meets permafrost.”
  • Seek: Alaska-tested products, suppressor tech advancements, conservation success metrics
  • Avoid: Urban outdoor trends, electronic gaming integrations, celebrity hunting culture

Recent Accolades: 2023 Outdoor Media Summit Innovation Award for developing industry-standard cold-weather testing protocols. His Distinguished Rifleman Badge from the CMP underscores unmatched technical expertise in firearm journalism.

Yitka Winn

Outdoors journalist at REI Co-op (Uncommon Path), USA
USA
Outdoors
Sports
Lifestyle

Yitka Winn is a Seattle-based journalist specializing in endurance sports and outdoor culture. As editor for REI's Uncommon Path and founder of the Runners Who Write Substack, she explores:

  • Athlete Storytelling: Profiles balancing quantitative performance data with personal narratives
  • Community Dynamics: How outdoor spaces foster creative collaboration
  • Parenting in Sports: Childcare logistics and legacy planning

Key Contact Details

"Great pitches help me connect technical aspects of running with universal human experiences." - Winn's submission guidelines

indoor fitness trends, Olympic athletics

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