Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2026 Conference

America’s public lands are at an inflection point. Record-breaking visitation, intensifying wildfires and biodiversity loss, along with mounting development pressure, are conflicting with management systems and funding models built for another era. How we proceed is an open question – and a story that couldn’t be more urgent.

This panel brings together leading voices to explore emerging models for public lands management, from cross-agency coordination to governance approaches that reflect today’s realities. It also examines a critical piece of the puzzle: how we pay for it. As the traditional user-pay model tied to hunting and fishing changes, we’ll consider new strategies – and who should help bear the cost.

Together, this conversation considers under-reported angles and growing tensions at the intersection of policy and conservation. Panelists will share insights and ideas that will define the future of our national legacy of public lands and waters.

Valuing Your Work and Negotiating Fair Compensation as a Professional Writer

Writers are often told that exposure is payment enough. But professional storytelling, whether through journalism, essays, books, photography, podcasts, branded content, or public speaking, is skilled labor built on years of experience, creativity, and hard-earned expertise. Your work has value. Learning how to advocate for that value is essential to building a sustainable career.

In this practical and candid workshop, award-winning author, journalist, and media producer James Edward Mills will lead a conversation about the business side of creative work. Participants will explore how to realistically evaluate the worth of their time, talent, and intellectual property while developing the confidence to negotiate fair compensation for writing assignments, speaking engagements, consulting work, partnerships, and multimedia projects.
Drawing from more than three decades of experience in publishing, outdoor media, brand partnerships, public speaking, and nonprofit collaboration, Mills will share real-world strategies for setting rates, navigating difficult conversations, identifying hidden labor, and avoiding the common trap of undervaluing your work. The session will also examine the unique challenges facing freelance creatives in outdoor and travel media, where passion is too often used to justify underpayment.

Topics will include:

• Establishing professional rates and fee structures
• Understanding the true cost of freelance work
• Negotiating contracts and deliverables
• Knowing when to say yes and when to walk away
• Building long-term professional relationships without sacrificing your value
• Leveraging expertise, lived experience, and niche authority into sustainable opportunities

Whether you are an emerging freelancer or an established storyteller looking to strengthen your business practices, this workshop will provide practical tools and honest insight to help you protect your work, advocate for yourself, and get paid what you’re worth.