Emma Mason

With dual expertise in modern history and scientific journalism, Emma Mason crafts narratives that reveal how past innovations shape present realities. Her work for BBC History Magazine and Biocompare demonstrates unique ability to make technical subjects accessible without sacrificing depth.

Key Coverage Areas

  • 20th-Century Social History: Specializes in Prohibition-era systems analysis rather than biographical profiles
  • Scientific Innovation: Focuses on historical contexts of medical breakthroughs
  • Royal Institution Studies: Examines psychological dimensions of tradition maintenance

Pitching Preferences

  • Prefers data-rich submissions with archival documentation
  • Seeks stories highlighting underrecognized historical contributors
  • Avoid military tactic analyses or economic policy deep dives

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More About Emma Mason

Bio

Career Trajectory: From Modern History to Cross-Disciplinary Storytelling

Emma Mason has carved a unique niche bridging historical analysis with scientific communication over her 15-year career. Beginning as Website Editor for BBC History Magazine in 2013, she developed HistoryExtra into one of the UK's most visited history platforms through pieces like her 2021 definitive profile of Al Capone that contextualized Prohibition-era crime through urban development patterns.

"The true legacy of Capone lies not in Tommy guns, but in how he exposed the impossibility of legislating morality through flawed policy frameworks."

Pivotal Works

  • What is a Molotov cocktail? (HistoryExtra, 2022) - Traced the weapon's evolution from Spanish Civil War makeshift armament to modern protest symbol
  • Antibody Screening Methods Accelerating Lead Development (Biocompare, 2025) - Examined high-throughput platforms revolutionizing immunotherapy research
  • The Balmoral Tests: Decoding Royal Family Rituals (HistoryExtra, 2020) - Analyzed psychological dimensions of royal tradition through historical case studies

Beat Analysis & Pitching Strategy

1. Contextualize Modern Issues Through Historical Lenses

Mason's 2022 analysis of Molotov cocktails demonstrates her ability to connect material culture with contemporary social movements. Successful pitches should frame current events through analogous historical precedents - for example, comparing modern cybersecurity challenges to Cold War cryptography arms races.

2. Bridge STEM/Humanities Divides

Her Biocompare work on antibody screening reveals appetite for explaining technical scientific processes through accessible narratives. Pitches about archaeological chemistry techniques or AI-assisted manuscript analysis would align well with this interdisciplinary approach.

3. Focus on Underdocumented Historical Actors

While Mason frequently covers major figures like Al Capone, her deepest insights emerge when profiling secondary characters who shaped events. The 2020 Balmoral Tests piece gained traction by analyzing royal staff members' roles in maintaining tradition.

Pitch Considerations

  • Lead with archival discoveries that challenge historical consensus
  • Highlight interdisciplinary research teams/methodologies
  • Avoid military history focused solely on battlefield tactics
  • Emphasize policy impacts over personality-driven narratives
  • Connect STEM innovations to cultural adoption patterns

Awards & Recognition

2021 Historical Association Public Engagement Prize - Awarded for making complex academic research accessible to over 2 million monthly HistoryExtra readers through innovative digital formats including interactive timelines and primary source deep dives.

2019 Association of British Science Writers Finalist - Recognized for pioneering work bridging historical analysis with contemporary science communication, particularly her series on medical archaeology breakthroughs.

Top Articles

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