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4 tips for getting an editor’s letter of support for a fellowship
If you’re a freelance journalist with an ambitious story idea, applying for a fellowship can be an excellent way to secure some funding and editorial guidance along the way. But many such opportunities require an editor to commit to publishing the project months — if not longer — in advance. That can be a barrier.…
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These new resources can help you vet digital mental health tools
If you’re a journalist covering mental health, you’re bound to come across some new digital tool claiming to combat anxiety or encourage healthier self-talk. But reporting on them — whether as a news article about a buzzy new product or in a roundup of resources in a service piece — can be tricky. As I…
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Rural-urban divide follows patients to end-of-life care, study says
When we talk about rural health disparities, we often focus on getting people into the health care system: finding a doctor, reaching a hospital, getting cancer treatment or managing a chronic disease. But a recent study published in JAMA reminds journalists to consider disparities in end-of-life care, too. The study examined more than 21 million…
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Rural health, data, and data challenges in the age of rural transformation
Rural Health Webinar Series This webinar is Part 2 of our 2026 Rural Health Webinar Series. Attend at least four of our five sessions, complete a brief knowledge check and earn an AHCJ Certification in Covering Rural Health for your resume. Learn more » Access to accurate, varied rural data is key to accounting for,…
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SchoolVaxView offers data and trends on kindergarten vaccination rates
Kindergarten exemptions from at least one vaccination required for public school jumped 17% for the 2025-2026 school year over the previous year, according to the annual 2026 CDC report on Vaccination Coverage and Exemptions among Kindergartners published August 17. The report is released annually in late summer or early fall, and the data is incorporated…
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How a freelancer pitched a personal essay about running and romance to Runner’s World
For my latest installment of “How I Pitched It,” I talked to Amanda McCracken, a freelance health, travel and relationship journalist in Boulder, Colo. McCracken, who’s written for outlets including The New York Times, NPR and The Guardian, shares the story behind her May Runner’s World essay, How the Best Lessons I Learned During Racing…
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CMS may upend remote patient monitoring. Here’s what to know
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has covered remote patient monitoring (RPM) since 2018, with payments totaling more than $500 million in 2024, according to a recent article in STAT. Remote patient monitoring tracks patients’ health through technology outside of clinical settings–such as an electronic blood pressure cuff or continuous glucose monitor–and intervenes…
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