So you want to write for The Scientist

The Scientist's editors are always looking for writers who can contribute enterprising reporting to tell the stories of science around the world. Our online news stories, and Notebooks, which appear in print, are generally the best places to break in as a freelance journalist. We cannot underestimate how important it is for potential contributors to carefully study and understand our audience as well as our approach.

We offer competitive rates per word. Once we accept your idea, we will discuss particulars about payment, and will ask some general questions about potential conflicts of interest.

If you are an active scientist or policymaker, and would like to reach our tens of thousands of scientist readers in print, and many more on the web with an Opinion, we welcome those submissions too.

Specific instructions follow.
Pitching news
Pitching Notebooks
Submitting Opinions

If you have an idea for a news story, use the pitch guidelines posted below for either research or policy stories, and send your idea to news editor Alla Katsnelson at akatsnelson@the-scientist.com.

-To pitch research news, follow these guidelines:

Daily news research roundups are short items (600 words generally) set to be released on the date that the embargo lifts for the paper or papers you're covering. There should be at least three interviews: one of the authors involved and two outside voices. You'll generally be pitching these from press releases.

We're all getting the same releases, so instead of just cutting and pasting, spend a little time and write a pitch that includes the following, with these exact categories:

THE FINDING
THE METHOD
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT OR FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCHERS
WHAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE KNEW BEFORE?
WHAT MIGHT BE CONTROVERSIAL

Some might have shorter answers than others. Sometimes "why it's important" is just because it's a timely finding that has something to do with what's going on in the world. But if there aren't really good answers to at least one of the last three questions, it may not be a good fit for the Daily News.

If you feel the need to quote the press release, do so, but say so.

When 24 hours has passed since the press release came out, we'll review them together. If the study is worth covering, I'll assign a story to that writer who seems to have the most insight into why it's a good story.

Administrative notes:
-- Always, always, always, attach the paper or a link to it, or let me know why it's not available.
-- Always, always, always include the embargo date. Don't assume I know just because it's a journal we typically cover.
-- Include one pitch per email.
-- Your subject line should always be "Journal name" "pitch" "lead author" (eg Nature pitch Smith).

-To pitch news stories that aren't based on journal articles, but have a significant impact on life scientists working in the lab, follow the guidelines listed below.

THE STORY (Describe what the story would be about, 1-2 sentences.)
WHY SIGNIFICANT (Describe why this story is significant to life scientists, 1-2 sentences. What makes this story worth covering?)
PREVIOUS COVERAGE (Describe when we covered the story before, how this new story would be different. Include links of our previous studies.)
WHAT WILL YOU SAY THAT'S NEW: 1-2 sentences.
SOURCES: (Categories of people, such as "stem cell researcher," are fine. 3-4 categories.)

Send Notebook ideas to Deputy Editor Alison McCook at amccook@the-scientist.com. Notebooks do not need to follow such formal pitches, but any pitch should include the general idea, who else has covered the story, what you'll give us that is unique, and why the idea is important to our readers. Notebooks run about 700 words and are sort of mini-profiles, with a heavy dose of narrative. Please see the Notebook sections of several recent issues to get a sense of what they're about.

We welcome unsolicited opinions, of 700 words or less. Email your submission as a Word document to Alison McCook at amccook@the-scientist.com.