Fees: STAT pays freelancers $1 per word for features that range in length from 800 to 1,500 words, depending on the topic. Pay can go higher under certain circumstances, for example if a story requires an unusual amount of reporting.
Submit to: Six different STAT editors accept email pitches and will pass them to the appropriate editor. Put “Freelance pitch” at the start of the subject line:
- Gideon Gil, managing editor — gideon.Gil@statnews.com
- Jason Ukman, managing editor — jason.Ukman@statnews.com
- Erin Mershon, senior news editor — erin.Mershon@statnews.com
- Megan Thielking, senior news editor — megan.Thielking@statnews.com
- Sarah Todd, assignment editor — sarah.Todd@statnews.com
- Laura Chang, editorial director — laura.Chang@statnews.com
Website: www.statnews.com
Owner: John W. Henry, publisher and owner of Boston Globe Media
Readership demographics: General audience plus lab scientists, health professionals, business leaders and policymakers.
Frequency of publication: The website is updated throughout the day.
What editors look for in a pitch: “By and large, we’re looking for ideas that check the boxes of a great STAT story: smart, compelling, original reporting that takes readers inside the world of health, medicine and scientific discovery,” according to its pitch guidelines. “That can translate to all sorts of stories: pieces that bring readers inside research labs, hospitals, and biotech companies; that scrutinize new findings or industry business strategies; that chronicle patient experiences or shed light on disparities; or that dive deep into ideas or individuals that are changing the way we think about science and medicine.”
STAT is “especially interested in features, trend stories, and in-depth analysis that would be of interest to readers of STAT➕, our premium subscription service focused squarely on the news and analysis of the industries we cover, including pharma, biotech, health tech and hospitals, as well as regulatory and legislative policy relevant to those industries.”
Avoid pitching stories about consumer health and wellness or service-oriented stories, breaking news, scientific studies under embargo and stories that will be widely covered by other outlets.
The pitch itself should be between 300 to 600 words and give editors a sense of what is exciting and new about the story, some context, who will be interviewed and why it will be of interest to STAT’s audience. Include a short bio and some links to clips if you have never written for STAT.
Do editors accept pre-pitches?: “No, we’d rather see a full pitch,” said Gideon Gil, STAT managing editor and AHCJ board member.
Most common mistakes editors see in pitches: “Ideas that duplicate stories we or others already have written,” said Gil. “Please do a search to ensure your idea or angle is fresh.”
Lead time for pitching: Once an editor accepts a pitch, the editor will work with the freelancer to set a deadline. Freelancers can submit an invoice for payment once edits are finalized.
Best way to break into STAT: “Have a good idea and write a strong pitch,” said Gil.