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Before you leave for Health Journalism 2022 in Austin at the end of April, be sure to review the Freelance Center’s market guides so you’re prepared to quickly pitch your story ideas at PitchFest.
Since last blogging about the guides, I have added four new ones and one revised guide. Here’s a roundup of the latest additions.
Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News (revised)
This monthly magazine is sent free to every gastroenterologist in the United States and publishes feature stories and meeting coverage. It pays 75 cents per word for a two-source minimum story. New Managing Editor Sarah Tilyou suggests freelancers pitch a feature story because she assigns most meeting coverage. Make sure the pitch has a nut graph.
This digital new outlet, established in September, covers mental health and pays between $1 and $1.50 per word depending on the degree of reporting. Feature stories run from 1,200 to 1,800 words and investigative pieces can be as long as 2,300 words. Founding Editor Rob Waters is looking for stories that expose problems in the mental health system and solutions-focused stories.
This magazine from the American Psychological Association is published eight times a year and pays writers $1 per word for articles 1,500 to 2,400 words in length. Managing Editor Susan Straight says pitches need to list the experts to be interviewed — at least three — and the scientific journals to be referenced in support of the story’s key points. Ideally the pitch would contain a nut graph.
The “Shots” blog covers domestic health news and “Goats & Soda” publishes stories about global health and development issues in low resource countries. “Shots” Editor Carmel Wroth says the blog is looking for timely pieces on health care, health science, health policy and personal health and wellness. “Goats & Soda” Editor Marc Silver wants stories with strong news pegs and new studies to support them. Pay depends on the complexity of the story and the writer’s experience. NPR pays by article, not word.
Science News (new)
This print magazine and website covers advances in science, medicine and technology for the general public and pays about $3,500 for features, which average 2,200 to 2,400 words in length. Features Editor Cori Vanchieri is interested in trends stories, and she likes stories with a narrative. Pitches should have a nut graph.
Also, please take a few minutes to update your profile through AHCJ’s new membership portal so that editors you meet at PitchFest can look you up. In setting up the portal, AHCJ did not migrate over your old profile information. (Many of the profiles were out of date.) Editors do look at the freelance member directory. I have been contacted a few times from editors looking to assign a story and who found me there.
And please mark your calendar. AHCJ’s next Lunch and Learn for freelance members is Thursday, March 17, at Noon CST. It’s going to be all about pitching. So bring your questions and your advice for others.
