Publication: Great Lakes Now
Topic(s): Great Lakes region, environment, health, PFAS chemicals, climate change impacts
Rate: $0.50 per word
Deadline: Rolling
Client’s Name: Lisa John Rogers (News Editor)
Submit Via: Email – lrogers@detroitpbs.org

🌱 What They’re Looking For:

Great Lakes Now, a Detroit PBS production, seeks freelancers passionate about the environment and public health. Stories focus on:

• PFAS contamination (“forever chemicals”) and environmental health crises.
• Microplastics pollution in freshwater systems.
• Climate change impacts like urban heat islands and their solutions.
• Cultural and mental health dimensions of environmental change.
• Conservation efforts and biodiversity in the Great Lakes region.

They love narrative-driven, deeply reported pieces with a strong sense of place. Collaborative and investigative work is welcome.

📚 Resources/Guides:

• Latest on PFAS legislation
• Microplastics problem explained
• Heat Island series – Part I
• Heat Island series – Part II
• Psychological impacts of climate change

🚀 How To Get This Client:

• Familiarize yourself with Great Lakes Now’s tone: thoughtful, solution-oriented, and deeply human.
• Pitch unique angles on environmental health, climate resilience, or cultural connections to water.
• Keep pitches concise but rich in context.
• Email Lisa directly at lrogers@detroitpbs.org with your pitch and relevant clips.

💡 Pro Tip:

This client values freelancers who can balance science with storytelling. If you don’t have experience with environmental reporting, Sure Media’s training can show you how to break into this niche.