Pitches wanted (science, biodiversity) | 80 cents to $1+ per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: BIOGRAPHIC

Colin Schultz, Senior News Editor at bioGraphic, is looking for pitches:

I have an email address! We're still working on the submission guidelines, etc., but if you have an idea for a news story for bioGraphic, you can send it to: cschultz@biographic.com 

• Strong science

• New and interesting

• Societal relevance

• Not based on a press release

In terms of story style and structure, the section is going to be based very heavily on what we did at Hakai, so I will reshare my explanation of that news section here: https://mailchi.mp/hakaimagazine/frances-deadly-seaweed?e=4c26a6ac4b

The only difference is that rather than "coasts" our beat is "biodiversity".

If you're not someone who is super familiar with Hakai's previous work, here is a thread going over what we did in news here:

• Like all newsy people, I'm a sucker for the unexpected. And what's more unexpected than this: that oral histories from the ICE AGE may still be kicking around: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/memories-of-the-end-of-the-last-ice-age-from-those-who-were-there/

• Killer whales eating great white sharks has been in the news recently, but believe you me it was VERY SURPRISING when we first wrote about it in 2017: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/great-white-sharks-are-being-killed-and-eaten-killer-whales/

• Kimon de Greef had another early favourite of mine: this heart-wrenching tale of life in a very difficult part of the world: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/poverty-poaching-and-death-great-white-shark/

• One time, someone asked if we had any "scoops" that year. I was confused by the question, because we tried to make sure every story was unique--that every story was a scoop. Like this one, introducing the world to the issue of coastal darkening: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/the-environmental-threat-youve-never-heard-of/

• I think we had a lot of really fun and interesting "new research" stories, like this, announcing the discovery of the first-known underwater pollinator:  https://hakaimagazine.com/news/scientists-discover-underwater-pollinator/

• Or the fact that photosynthesis makes a sound: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/photosynthesis-makes-a-sound/

• Other favourites in the "new research" category looked at how cuttlefish passed the mirror test: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/clever-cuttlefish-have-passed-the-marshmallow-test/

• And how scientists managed to discover the same octopus twice, 150-years apart: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/found-then-lost-then-found-again-scientists-have-rediscovered-the-sand-octopus/

• Another big category of stories were those analyzing ongoing events. Ashley Braun did a whole series on the Pebble Mine, kicked off by this piece, which was the result of a tip-off by a source: https://hakaimagazine.com/news/dont-forget-the-pebble-mines-overlooked-port/

Rates are changing slightly (in the good way): a news story that was CAN $1.25 at Hakai is now USD $1.00 at bioGraphic, which with current exchange rates is a fair bit higher. 

(Hakai news stories that were CAN $1/w are now USD $.8/w, also a small raise.) Features have a different pay structure.

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CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

• Questions/submissions: cschultz@biographic.com 

• Website: https://www.biographic.com

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: bioGraphic is an editorially independent, nonprofit online magazine powered by the California Academy of Sciences. It showcases the wonder of nature and explores innovative solutions for sustaining life on Earth. The platform aims to spark conversations, shift perspectives, and inspire new ideas by shedding light on pressing environmental challenges and potential solutions. More information here.

• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: Wild Life, Places, Systems, People, Discoveries, Solutions

• Review the submission guidelines here. Note that these are the publication's general guidelines to help you refine your pitch. You must still follow the editor's specific instructions above.

• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook and at SuccessfulPitches.com.

• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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