STAT set out from the beginning, even before the pandemic became a pandemic, to be on top of this story and provide the best, most accessible information about the virus. We wanted to ensure that everyone could receive thorough, accessible reporting to remain as informed as possible while we all charted these treacherous, unknown waters. It was also important to us to continue to highlight the deep disparities there are with this virus.
Our goal was to become the free, just, inclusive, and authoritative online news outlet for the Covid-19 pandemic.
We were quick to ensure that all of our Covid-19 coverage was free so that all could have access to our vital information.
Early on, our goal for covering the pandemic grew beyond just reporting on stories. We developed three data set trackers for the pandemic— one was for cases and deaths, another for county preparedness to handle the virus, and the third for treatments and vaccines.
Expanded our coverage beyond just updates on the virus, but on who it's affecting, how, and why.
Get our work noticed and recognized by other news outlets:
The NYT reported on how our infectious disease report, Helen Branswell, was one of 'the first to call it' after her early story in January about a 'mysterious flu' in China.
Get picked up by LinkedIn News and Apple News Top Stories for our coverage to expand our reach.
In the early days of the pandemic, we were seeing site traffic numbers that we had never reached since our inception. The traffic we would normally gain in over the course of a few weeks we were doing in just one day.
Our Twitter followers grew — we gain over 50 thousand new followers, organically, since last year.
When we hosted a year-end summit, we had speakers like Dr. Anthony Faucci, Bill Gates, and Chealse Clinton coming to speak because of the credibility we had established over covering the pandemic.
A litany of first opinion authors knocking at the (virtual) door to have the opportunity to be published on our site.
Continue to maintain and foster a strong relationship with Apple News and LinkedIn News.
