Submission Guidelines: How to Pitch to ReportingScience

ReportingScience welcomes well-researched, original pitches from freelance journalists and subject-matter experts. Our focus is on providing clear, unbiased, and context-driven coverage of scientific advancements for a general but highly engaged public.

The first step to a successful pitch is to know our site. Read our recent work to understand our commitment to critical analysis and our preference for stories that explain why a finding matters—not just what the finding is.

All pitches must be emailed to: info@reportingscience.com.

In your email subject line, please include the story type, the relevant scientific channel, a proposed headline, and your suggested filing deadline.

Sample Email Subject Line: FEATURE PITCH: GENETICS – Is Gene Editing Creating a New Human Divide? (Deadline: Oct 20)

Sample Email Subject Line: NEWS ANALYSIS: ASTROPHYSICS – Why the New Black Hole Image May be an Error, Deadline 48hrs

Types of Stories We Accept from Freelancers

 

We publish four distinct types of content, each requiring a different approach and turnaround time:

 

1. News & Findings (Timely)

 

These stories cover very recent (published within the last two months) or embargoed peer-reviewed research.

  • Criteria: The finding must be new, interesting, AND significant. We prioritize stories that challenge or substantially redefine existing knowledge in a field.

  • Pitch Length: No more than 100 words.

  • Format: Include a proposed headline, the filing deadline (or embargo time), and a direct link to the source paper or press release.

  • Content: Briefly explain the core finding, highlight the scientific novelty (what makes this paper different?), and propose three critical, outside experts you plan to interview to put the findings into context.

  • Word Count: Typically 500 – 800 words.

  • Note on Turnaround: For breaking news, we need same-day or 24-hour turnaround. Only pitch if you can guarantee this speed.

 

2. In-Depth Explainer (Foundational Context)

 

Explainers provide comprehensive context around a scientific topic that has recently gained prominence in the news cycle. We look for pieces that answer the most-searched public questions on a complex subject.

  • Criteria: The topic must be relevant now, but the resulting article should have a long shelf life. We look for deep, foundational dives into subjects like ‘The Physics of Quantum Entanglement’ or ‘How Do Brain Organoids Work?’.

  • Pitch Length: 100 – 150 words.

  • Content: Propose a headline framed as a direct question (e.g., What Happens to the Human Body When it Travels at the Speed of Light?). Include a bulleted list of the 4–6 core questions the story will answer, and name two definitive sources who will provide the scientific foundation.

  • Word Count: 1,000 – 1,500 words.

  • Note: We often commission explainers from freelancers with demonstrated expertise in the specific scientific field.

 

3. News Analysis (Critical Assessment)

 

Analysis pieces critically assess a major scientific trend, controversial policy, or technological failure, asking “Is this really working?” or “What are the hidden consequences?”

  • Criteria: Must relate to a current scientific debate (e.g., the feasibility of fusion power, the ethical limits of certain AI applications, or why a widespread health study might be flawed). These stories require a strong argumentative structure backed by evidence.

  • Pitch Length: 100 – 150 words.

  • Content: State the compelling question your analysis will answer. Detail the opposing scientific viewpoints you will present and the specific evidence (studies/data) you will reference to structure the piece.

  • Sources: Requires interviews with at least three experts with differing or critical viewpoints on the issue.

  • Word Count: Typically 1,000 – 1,200 words.

 

4. Long-Form Feature (Narrative Deep Dive)

 

Features are highly selective, narrative-driven pieces that explore broad changes in a field, profile a controversial scientist, or track a decades-long mystery.

  • Criteria: The bar for features is extremely high. They must involve significant original reporting, a strong narrative arc, and the potential to remain relevant for years.

  • Pitch Length: Up to 300 words.

  • Content: Provide a proposed narrative map or structure (a brief outline of the story’s beginning, middle, and end, including key scenes or historical turning points). Provide links to all core studies/research that will form the backbone of the story.

  • Sources: Require extensive sourcing (a good rule of thumb is one interview for every 400 words of text).

  • Word Count: Up to 3,000 words.

 

Pitch Guidelines by Scientific Channel

 

To ensure your pitch lands with the right editor, please categorize it under one of our core channels:

  • Astrophysics & Cosmology: Focus on the fundamental questions: black holes, dark matter, the early universe, and space-based telescope findings. We prefer physics over basic sky-watching events.

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: We focus on the implications of AI—breakthroughs in foundational models, cognitive architecture, ethical oversight, regulatory challenges, and the societal impact of automation. We are interested in stories about quantum computing, neural networks, and how machine learning is fundamentally changing other scientific fields (e.g., drug discovery). Avoid pitches on incremental software updates or basic consumer tech product reviews.

  • Genetics & Genomics: Coverage includes large-scale human genetic studies, CRISPR and gene-editing ethics, personalized medicine advancements, and breakthroughs in ancient DNA/human origins.

  • Health & Medicine: Prioritize human-based clinical trials (preferably randomized, placebo-controlled, and with large participant numbers). We look for stories explaining disease mechanisms, infectious diseases, neurobiology, and the scientific basis of public health policy. Avoid incremental findings or small animal studies unless they reveal a universally surprising mechanism.

  • Earth Systems & Climate: We cover major geological events, the dynamics of Earth’s interior, and comprehensive climate change analysis. We are not interested in climate skepticism; we focus on the science of impacts, mitigation, and adaptation.

  • Emerging Technology & AI: Focus on truly transformative technological shifts: quantum computing, novel energy sources, robotics, and the societal/ethical impact of artificial intelligence. Avoid coverage of simple consumer tech upgrades.

  • Archaeology & Anthropology: Stories must use scientifically vetted techniques (radiocarbon dating, lidar, genomic analysis) to interpret the past. We cover ancient human evolution, forgotten civilizations, and major, scientifically-verified archaeological finds—not simple historical events.