Pitches wanted (science, technology) | ~45 cents per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: THE OBSERVER

Ian Tucker, Science and Technology Editor of The Observer, is looking for pitches:

ATTENTION FREELANCE SCIENCE JOURNALISTS! Please send me your pitches for features, 1700 words approximately, which could run in the Observer’s Science & Technology pages. For an idea of the types of pieces we run, see below:

• Deeper “actually it’s more complicated than that” dives into a misunderstood area of science. Such as this Laura Spinney feature about epigenetics: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/10/epigenetics-the-misunderstood-science-that-could-shed-new-light-on-ageing
• A look at a fast developing area which has a real world application or impact, eg mRNA vaccines or electric airplanes For example, Michael Marshall's piece about plastic munching enzymes: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/05/how-super-enzymes-that-eat-plastics-could-curb-our-waste-problem
• An evidence based perspective on something mainstream/newsy, such as detoxing, sourdough or mindfulness. For example, David Robson's look at unconscious bias training: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/25/what-unconscious-bias-training-gets-wrong-and-how-to-fix-it
• A debate amongst researchers. For example, David Cox’s piece about whether Alzheimer’s could be caused by an infection: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/19/could-alzheimers-be-caused-by-an-infection
• And pieces about how science works and how this impacts society. For example, Aarathi Prasad's feature about the lack of black scientists: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/10/why-are-there-still-so-few-black-scientists-in-the-uk
• Genre-defying is good too – I’m not sure how to categorise this but I really like it, by Emilie Stan: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/16/archaeology-sexual-revolution-bones-sex-dna-birka-lovers

Please send a pitch, 250 words max, to ian.tucker@observer.co.uk – including a suggestion for the headline and your proposed structure. Payment is at the standard Guardian rate of £361 per 1000 words.

Please bear in mind these articles need to be understandable and relevant to the readers of a British Sunday newspaper.

Also interested in pitches about the environment and technology.

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

• Questions/submissions: ian.tucker@observer.co.uk
• Website: https://www.theguardian.com/observer

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: The Observer, The Guardian's weekly magazine, is a round-up of the world news, opinion and long reads that have shaped the week.
• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: Science, Technology
• 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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