Freelance writing, The California Health Report (healthycal.org), pays $200-$750 per story (USA)

Deadline: 9 March 2011

Location: Fresno/Merced, California

The California Health Report, healthycal.org, is a not-for-profit news site covering public health and health-related policy in California. The site is funded by the California Endowment and edited by Daniel Weintraub, a veteran California journalist who most recently was the public affairs columnist for the Sacramento Bee.

Weintraub reports from the Capitol on policy developments in health, land-use, environment, transportation and other fields that affect the health of individuals and their communities. But the site relies on stringers to report on these issues at the local level and to bring diverse voices of people in the community to the site.

We are looking for freelance journalists in Fresno and Merced. We offer some assignments and leads but also welcome good story ideas from reporters in the field. At times, writers also provide audio and video along with their text. Our emphasis is on people who are dealing with problems in their lives and work that are the result of failed policy or could be addressed by new public policy. These include success stories about people and organizations overcoming obstacles and improving the health outcomes or prospects of their communities.

We prefer applicants who can commit to one to two stories a month for at least one year. We pay between $200 and $750 per story, depending on the complexity of the story.

Applicants should send a letter of interest that includes three story ideas, a resume, and three clips to Heather Gilligan, heathertgilligan@earthlink.net. Applications without a cover letter cannot be considered.

More information here.