How to Pitch Bay Nature

Freelance Pitches

Bay Nature magazine is published quarterly, and Baynature.org features new pieces every week. We welcome pitches from freelance journalists, writers, thinkers, scientists, photographers, conservation leaders, artists, cartographers, and infographic designers.

Both in print and online we’re always looking for new environmental science to explain, species to explore, important conservation issues to tackle, new open spaces to visit, and interesting people working with nature to feature. But here’s the challenge: Nature in the Bay Area is a narrow beat and we’ve covered A LOT of the basics in eighteen years. Before pitching us, please research whether we’ve already published stories on a subject. Press releases and pitches can go to editorial@baynature.org. Journalists should use this pitch form.

Starting in 2023, we are accepting pitches for our Wild Billions project exploring federal funding for nature in the Bay Area. Here’s an explanation of what we’re looking for (pitches should still come through the abovementioned pitch form).

Visual (art, design, cartography, etc.) portfolios should go to images@baynature.org. If you would like to receive our quarterly photo bulletin, where we detail our photo needs for a coming issue, send an email to images@baynature.org and we’ll sign you up.

We occasionally hire freelance photographers for quick-turnaround jobs. Please email Digital Editor kate@baynature.org with a portfolio link and your Bay Area location to be considered for such jobs.

We pay contributors based on their experience, but as a nonprofit, independent media organization, we don’t pay as much as we’d like to. There are very few people on staff at Bay Nature, so it can take us up to six weeks to respond to pitches.

Op-Eds

We welcome op-ed pitches from the conservation, science, naturalist, environmental education, and nature hobbyist communities. Before pitching us please see the general guidelines below and what will ultimately make for a successful op-ed.

  • Must have a named contributor or contributors.
  • Represent original work.
  • Offer a perspective. Pieces must use the contributor’s expertise in the subject area to provide insight and help readers better understand something they don’t already know.
  • Be free of jargon and academic language. We think of this section as like any op-ed page, a place to find ideas expressed with incisive writing and strong voice.
  • Bay Nature reserves the right to decline pitches for any reason, and edit all pieces to achieve the above goals.

Send op-ed pitches to editorial@baynature.org

Bay Nature’s EXPLORE

The EXPLORE section of Bay Nature magazine showcases the lands and stories important to our partners and that help readers get out and engage with the Bay Area’s incredible natural world. These stories are sponsored by our partners and co-created with Bay Nature’s editorial staff.  All sponsored EXPLORE content is clearly marked as paid for, and the stories meet multiple needs:

  • Help readers discover the public and private lands around them.
  • Support regional agencies and organizations by raising awareness, connection, and excitement about parks, open space, and activities that people can enjoy.
  • Ensure Bay Nature can continue to produce top-notch stories.

Recent examples of sponsored content that Bay Nature has published:

If you are interested in working with us on a sponsored EXPLORE story, please contact executive director and publisher Wes Radez: wes@baynature.org,  510-528-8550 x 101