The Sick Times is accepting pitches for reported news features and essays/commentary pieces. We take pitches only; do not send full drafts on spec. We prioritize pitches from people with Long COVID and related diseases. We will not review pitches that were drafted with AI.
To pitch us, email editors@thesicktimes.org. We generally respond to pitches within three weeks; if your pitch is more time-sensitive, include that in the subject line.
Table of contents:
- Reported news features
- Essays/commentary pieces
- Letters to the editors
- As of early 2026, we’re particularly interested in pitches about…
- Other ways to contribute
Reported news features
These stories usually share newsworthy information and involve interviews and/or other methods of gathering this information, such as researching scientific papers, analyzing data, or investigative reporting.
In pitches for these pieces, we’d like to see:
- A summary of the story you propose (what’s happening, who is involved, when and where, etc.).
- Why the story is relevant to our audience of people with Long COVID, related diseases, and their allies.
- Why you are the right person to report this story, including relevant clips (e.g. past examples of your writing).
- Reporting steps you plan to take, such as experts you might interview. Our stories always include experts with lived experience with chronic illness and disability as well as those with scientific or medical experience.
Please note: we do not publish single-study stories (e.g. stories that focus on only one new paper), as we have limited capacity and cannot cover every interesting study. We share new papers in our Research Updates instead.
We pay $1300 for news features of 1500-1700 words and publish 2-3 of these stories per month. We will also consider pitches for longer features on a case-by-case basis.
Essays/commentary pieces
These stories usually explore a personal narrative and/or present an argument, rather than share news. They typically do not involve reporting or gathering new information.
In pitches for these pieces, we’d like to see:
- A description of your proposed central argument or message.
- How you would support the argument. This may include a potential outline, summaries of scenes you would write, or aspects of your personal experience or research you would cite.
- Why you are the right person to write this story, including relevant clips (e.g. past examples of your writing) if you have them.
Please note: we do not publish broad personal narratives (e.g. “my life with Long COVID”), as these narratives are common across other media outlets. Rather, we look for our commentary articles to offer novel perspectives or arguments to the Long COVID and related disease community. We recommend pitching such personal narratives to local news outlets or other publications where they may help educate people who are unaware of Long COVID.
We pay $400 for essays of 1000-1200 words and publish 2-3 of these stories per month.
For all pitches, please keep in mind that our audience includes people with Long COVID, their loved ones, people with related chronic diseases, and allies seeking to avoid SARS-CoV-2 (re)infection. We do not publish any stories that minimize their experiences.
Also, keep in mind that we aim to publish stories that are accessible to readers without scientific or academic backgrounds. In pitches, it’s helpful for us to see past writing examples that are similarly written for this type of general-interest audience — though not required!
For arts & culture coverage (such as book reviews), we tend to focus on artwork either by or about people with Long COVID and related diseases, due to our limited capacity.
Letters to the editors
The Sick Times occasionally publishes responses from readers, to both our news and commentary stories, in the form of letters to the editors. We follow guidance from other publications that do this, including fellow INN members.
- We cannot offer payment for these letters.
- Letters should be around 150-250 words, 300 maximum.
- Letters may be copyedited for clarity and style.
- Writers must disclose their full names and affiliations, unless doing so would pose a significant risk to their safety.
- Please send your full name, phone number, and location (city/state/country) with letter submissions. Your phone number and location will not be published.
- Letters typically refer to an article published within the past two weeks or so.
- By submitting a letter, writers agree to allowing The Sick Times to share it in any format.
- This article offers more guidance on letters to the editors.
To submit a letter to the editors, email editors@thesicktimes.org and include the phrase “letter to the editors” in your subject line.
As of early 2026, we’re particularly interested in pitches about:
- Deep dives into promising — and scientifically backed — Long COVID treatment options
- Deep dives and unique angles on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), dysautonomia, MCAS, hEDS, and other related diseases and conditions commonly diagnosed alongside Long COVID
- Long COVID reporting from outside the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia
- Covering Long COVID as a disability, or intersections between disability justice and Long COVID
- Long COVID in children
- Social impact, or how Long COVID is impacting different communities
- Chronic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination
- Stories using public records or other documentation about how government agencies and institutions have responded to Long COVID
- Service journalism (e.g. information that readers can use in their day-to-day lives)
- New demands and strategies for Long COVID advocacy and community organizing
- Responses to and context about ableist/anti-health policies (e.g. mask bans and similar threats)
- Connections to climate change and pandemic preparedness
- Pitches for the Color of Long COVID series, and/or about how Long COVID intersects with other marginalized identities
We will also support grant applications from journalists interested in pursuing larger reporting projects about Long COVID. We can provide commitments to publish stories and/or feedback on applications, but please reach out at least two weeks in advance of the deadline.
Other ways to contribute
Writing an article for us is just one way you can contribute to The Sick Times. Here are a few others:
- Send us a tip, or an idea for a story you would like us to cover. As a small team, we aren’t able to look into every story idea, but ideas and questions from readers often inform features down the line.
- Invite us to cover your work. We love to hear from Long COVID and related disease scientists, medical providers, artists, advocates, and others working on these issues.
- We may consider writing a news article about your work if we have the capacity and space in our editorial schedule.
- New research papers and clinical trial announcements may be included in our Research Updates section.
- Upcoming events and advocacy opportunities may be included in our newsletter and shared on social media.
- Collaborate with us as a fellow news outlet.The Sick Times is very open to partnerships with other media outlets, especially local publications and other topic-focused outlets that may help us share our work with broader audiences.
- This can look like an original story that two outlets develop together, or a story produced by one outlet that is republished by the other.
- Other news outlets are also welcome to republish original articles by The Sick Times, as long as they credit us and link back to the original story.
- Send us an existing article that we can republish or share. We are open to republishing existing, already-published articles from other news outlets, blogs, and newsletters.
- When we do this, we make the original source of the article clear at the top of the story. We will also clarify that other outlets can’t republish the article from The Sick Times, they must go to the original source.
- See examples here.
- Be a source for a story. We are always looking for new Long COVID and related disease experts to feature in our articles.
- Sponsor a newsletter issue, podcast episode, online event, article series, or other form of content. Reach out to sponsorship@thesicktimes.org to learn more about these opportunities.
We do not have any part-time positions open at this time.