How to write for National Geographic
Before you pitch:
- Has National Geographic covered it before? Check out what we’ve published or try a Google search using “site:nationalgeographic.com [topic/keywords]”
How to pitch:
- Please note: we need time to consider pitches as a group, and due to the volume of submissions we regrettably are unable to respond to every one.
- The pitch should include a working headline, a 200-word summary of the story, ideas for photos or infographics, and a proposed word count. If there is a deadline by which you need an answer, please specify.
- The summary should include: why National Geographic readers should care about this story; why this is an important story now; how your story will build on what has already been said about this topic; links to relevant studies and source bios; and an estimated budget if there are travel or production costs.
- If you haven’t written for us before, include links to recently published work and a resume.
- We expect you to reach out to sources who reflect diversity in gender, race/ethnicity, geography, age, socioeconomic background, etc. There are many databases and resources for finding sources. If you need suggestions, ask your editor.
Animals:
National Geographic’s Animals Desk reports mostly on wild animals and occasionally on domesticated animals to provide deeper understanding of our natural world and inspire audiences to care. Our coverage includes discoveries of new species, behaviors, and cognition; wildlife crime and welfare; the conservation of endangered species and threats driving extinction; and the intersection of animals and society.
Wildlife Watch, a reporting project embedded in the Animals Desk, is dedicated to shining light on commercial-scale exploitation of wildlife and other valued resources, identifying weaknesses in national and international efforts to protect wildlife, and empowering institutions and individuals working for a better world.
What we’re looking for:
- Engaging stories about animals (mainly wild animals, but occasionally domestic) that provide a deeper understanding of the natural world and inspire people to care about it.
- New research on animal biology, ecology, or behavior.
- Unique and untold stories, particularly about species that are often ignored or places that tend to be overlooked.
- Stories about the human-wildlife nexus: conservation, threats to species, wildlife trade, animal welfare, human-wildlife conflict, etc.
- Stories with a sense of urgency or a unique angle on a current event; narrative stories that illuminate a larger issue; stories driven by exciting visuals (photos or graphics); and strong explainers/evergreen stories.
- For Wildlife Watch: stories about commercial-scale wildlife crime and exploitation, including the illegal and legal wildlife trade, poaching, etc, especially in under-covered species or regions of the world; stories with a strong narrative or emotional appeal; stories that have a unique or original take. We occasionally consider pitches for investigative stories.
- Before you pitch, carefully consider the kinds of animals stories we publish.
Submit your animal pitches here. For Wildlife Watch pitches specifically, email them to NGP.WildlifeWatch@natgeo.com.
Environment:
National Geographic’s Environment Desk offers a blend of news, analysis of recent developments, and features from far-flung places. Our core topics are climate change and how humans and nature are adapting; fossil fuels and the transition to renewable energy; threats to ecosystems on land and in the ocean; parks and protected areas; pollution, especially by plastic waste; and the questions of justice embedded in all of the above.
What we’re looking for:
- Pitches from experienced writers and photographers, from around the world and from diverse backgrounds (but in the case of writers, with superior proficiency in English).
- Pitches that show awareness of the stories we publish.
- Stories that are timely, authoritative, and informed by science, and that offer careful reporting or analyses of significant environmental trends.
- Urgent stories of international and not merely local interest.
- Stories that promote understanding of environmental problems, inspire realistic hope for solutions, or both.
- Journalism rather than activism, fact rather than opinion.
Submit your environment pitches here.
History & Culture:
National Geographic’s History & Culture Desk is the leading outlet for reporting on the human journey: important archaeological discoveries, major cultural landmarks, and a deeper understanding of history as it affects our culture and modern life. We also tell stories about contemporary people, cultures, and geographies in the United States and around the world that help readers gain understanding and insight into our global village.
What we’re looking for:
- For more than 130 years, National Geographic has used the power of storytelling to chronicle the experiences of people and provide a window to places around the globe. We publish stories that chronicle history, illuminate the human condition, and shed light on contemporary cultural issues.
- We are looking for short and long-form features that are deeply reported and lend themselves to powerful photography, illustration, or graphics. Stories that lack a strong visual element tend not to work well for us.
- Before you pitch, carefully consider the kinds of history and culture stories we publish.
Submit your history and culture pitches here.
Kids and Family:
Nat Geo Kids magazine is a general-interest publication for children 6 to 14. Our mission is to educate and entertain kids through compelling storytelling on subjects such as natural history, cool technology, amazing geography, and fascinating history.
What we’re looking for:
- Why is this important to a kid's life?
- Geography, archaeology, paleontology, and history story suggestions must answer the question, "What's fun about that?"
- Science and technology story ideas must answer the questions, "How does this directly affect a kid's life?" and "What's in it for a 10-year-old?"
- Natural history story ideas must be tightly focused and exciting. For example: Don't pitch a general story about cheetahs. Do pitch a story on how a cheetah's physical attributes make it the ultimate hunting machine.
- For Amazing Animals, we're looking for animal stories that tell about unusual abilities, animal heroes, friendships, or silly situations.
- Entertainment story ideas must offer some behind-the-scenes perspective that is unusual and informational.
- See here for full details on pitching to Nat Geo Kids.
NatGeoFamily.com shows parents how to raise globally conscious kids through the lens of National Geographic values such as exploration, curiosity, and environmental stewardship.
What we’re looking for:
- Of-the-moment, news-you-can-use ideas for busy parents seeking concrete tips on helping their children become citizens of the world
- Activity-based articles that promote science, environmentalism, and creativity
Submit your kids and family pitches here.
Science:
National Geographic’s Science Desk offers a blend of discovery-driven news, explanations of the science behind current events, and longer features that put timely science in context. Our typical reader is excited about science, but is not an expert, so we cover new developments and trends in ways that bring people along on a journey of discovery. Ideal pitches will be driven by exciting visuals (photos or graphics) that complement the text. Our desk covers paleontology, astronomy, geology, health and medicine, human origins, technology, and physics.
What we’re looking for:
- Science stories that are timely and authoritative, infused with personality and urgency. Pitches should pay careful attention to nuance and controversy and explain why readers should care about this topic now.
- Unique reporting on new or off-the-beaten path discoveries, especially peer-reviewed studies that have not been reported.
- Unique science angles on world events and surprising trend stories.
- Profiles of researchers and other innovators that are timely and that highlight diverse contributions to the sciences.
Submit your science pitches here.
Travel:
National Geographic Travel has the largest digital reach of any media brand in consumer travel. Through visually driven storytelling across platforms, we offer practical tools, advice, and inspiration for planning trips to iconic places and the great outdoors. We focus on sustainable travel, national parks and wild places, UNESCO World Heritage sites, family travel, and stories that reveal the authentic qualities, histories, and cultures of places.
What we’re looking for:
- Expert reporters and photographers who can create original, insightful, and relevant travel articles that appeal to wide audiences.
- Relevant and timely travel articles that provide a deeper look at destinations, trends, and travel experiences through the National Geographic lenses of science, culture and history, wildlife and wild spaces, conservation, and community.
- Sustainable travel stories
- Outdoor adventure and national park stories
- Iconic places, world heritage, and culture stories
- Diverse perspectives
- Family travel advice
- Trip-planning tools
- Before you pitch, carefully consider the kinds of travel stories we publish.
- (Please let us know if you traveled on a press trip, accepted discounts, or received hosting of any kind.)
