Publication: The Sick Times
Topic(s): Long COVID, chronic illness, disability reporting, public health, science journalism
Rate: $400 to $1,300+ per article
Name of Editor: Betsy Ladyzhets
Submit Via: Email (editors@thesicktimes.org)

Writers interested in freelance health journalism, science writing, and disability reporting now have an opportunity to pitch The Sick Times, an independent newsroom focused on Long COVID and chronic illness.

Editor and co-founder Betsy Ladyzhets recently updated the publication’s pitching guidelines and is currently inviting reported features, investigations, and service journalism related to Long COVID and associated conditions.

Reported features typically pay between $400 and $1,300 or more, depending on the scope, reporting depth, and length of the article.

This is a strong opportunity for freelance writers looking for online writing jobs in health journalism, especially those with experience covering science, policy, disability rights, or public health.

What The Sick Times Is Looking For

The editorial team is particularly interested in pitches covering:

• Evidence-based Long COVID treatments and emerging scientific research
• Deep reporting on related conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), dysautonomia, MCAS, and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS)
• Long COVID reporting from outside the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia
• Stories exploring Long COVID as a disability or the intersection with disability justice
• Long COVID in children
• The social and economic impact of Long COVID on different communities
• Chronic symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination
• Investigative stories using public records or institutional documents
• Service journalism that provides practical information readers can use
• Coverage of Long COVID advocacy and community organizing
• Responses to ableist or anti-public-health policies such as mask bans
• The relationship between Long COVID, climate change, and pandemic preparedness
• Pitches for the Color of Long COVID series examining how the condition affects marginalized communities

Why This Opportunity Matters

Long COVID has emerged as one of the most significant global public-health issues of the decade, yet many aspects of the condition remain underreported.

The Sick Times focuses on stories that go beyond surface-level coverage—publishing deeply reported work that examines science, policy, lived experiences, and systemic responses to chronic illness.

For freelance writers with strong reporting skills, this is a chance to contribute meaningful journalism while earning competitive rates for health and science writing.

Writers should send concise pitches explaining their angle, reporting plan, and why the story matters now.