Pitches (Health)

Call for global health pitches—and a look back at what we did in 2023. Our remit is broad! Freelancers —keep this in mind. In the past year, we've covered everything from Ebola outbreaks and kidney rackets to sexual violence in Ukraine and natural disasters.

1. Diseases are our bread and butter, obviously. We've reported from Malawi on cervical cancer, ventured deep into the jungles of Guinea to uncover never-before-seen infections in humans, and explored vaccine hesitancy in Ethiopia. Exhibit A: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/ethiopia-vaccine-drought/

2. Women's rights are another key focus. Here, Sarah Newey examines Filipino legislation which forbids divorce, trapping thousands in abusive marriages. Her report from Quezon City: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/philippines-divorce-catholicism-domestic-abuse-infidelity/

Sexual violence in conflict has meanwhile been back in the headlines following October 7.
Maeve Cullinan covered it in detail here: https://telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/rape-sexual-violence-weapon-of-war-hamas-israel/

And Harriet Barber visited Ukraine last March to report on the weaponisation of rape in war: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/fight-back-against-putins-war-criminals/

3. What I call the 'things you never knew' segment of our coverage... Always wondered which country has the highest motorcycle death rate in the world? Fret not. Tom Parry has the answer for you: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/togo-accidents/

Here, Nicola Smith goes hunting for unexploded bombs on the Solomon Islands, which continues to be plagued by WW2 ordnance to this day: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/solomon-islands-second-world-war-bombs-artillery/

And make sure to check out this fascinating piece by Torbjörn Wester on the betel nut, which is chewed by millions but driving record rates of cancer: https://telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/betel-nut-abuse-mouth-cancer-papua-new-guinea/

These stories are health linked but what makes them work is their 'WTH' element.

4. Human rights abuses. We've produced a number of features and investigations on this topic.

In February, we revealed that foreign diplomats were trapping and abusing domestic workers in private households across London. By yours truly: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/foreign-diplomats-trap-abuse-domestic-workers-private-households/

And last month, we uncovered a 'cash-for-kidneys' racket linked to one of the world's biggest private healthcare companies.

The story was picked up by multiple international outlets and trigged several probes, which are ongoing: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/kidney-organ-trafficking-scandal-private-healthcare-india-myanmar/

5. Food glorious food. Climate-resistant crops, famine, grain shortages, and more—we do the lot. This long read on the rising threat of malnutrition in Gaza and its impact on under-5s is a strong example. By Lilia Sebouai: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/children-skeletons-rising-hunger-gaza-famine/

6. Humanitarian crises. At the beginning of last year, I travelled to Turkey to report on the devastating earthquakes that killed 10s of 1000s of people, in what was Europe's worst natural disaster in decades: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/turkey-syria-earthquakes-student-newborn-baby-family-six-latest/

Later in 2023, Ben Farmer visited the besieged city of Goma in the DRC - where food insecurity, displacement, and sexual violence is rife - to produce one of the most devastating pieces we ran all of last year: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/drc-conflict-congo-refugee-camps-sexual-violence-goma-m23/

Quickly, I'd say the simple language of this piece is what makes it work. The copy isn't embellished or OTT. There's colour here and there, but it's not overwhelming. The facts speak for themselves and deliver the article's punch. Less is more.

SUMMARY

Like I said, a real mixed bag.

Freelancers: if you have an idea which touches upon similar themes, please do get in touch. We steer clear of 'wonky' and 'dense' policy stories, of which there are many in the global health beat, so I'd encourage you to do the same.

Instead, consider whether your story is telling our readers something they didn't already know and if it feature strong human-led case studies (which we love, as you'll see in our coverage).

And remember: how can you angle your story to appeal to a traditional Telegraph reader?