As senior correspondent for Science magazine, John Cohen has become one of America's most trusted voices on pandemic science and global health equity. With 35+ years reporting from 50+ countries, his work sits at the intersection of virology, public policy, and social justice.
Successful pitches to Cohen typically:
John Cohen has shaped science journalism through four decades of rigorous reporting on biomedical breakthroughs and public health crises. A University of California, San Diego graduate with a B.A. in science writing (1981), Cohen began his career at the Washington City Paper before joining Science magazine in 1990. His early work focused on HIV/AIDS vaccine research, culminating in his critically acclaimed 2001 book Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, which exposed the scientific and political challenges of the epidemic[1][8].
"Vaccines are medicine's most powerful tool, yet their development often resembles a high-stakes game of molecular chess against evolving pathogens." – John Cohen in Science
This six-part documentary series, which Cohen co-produced and appeared in, examined global efforts to eliminate HIV transmission. Combining field reports from South Africa to San Francisco with expert interviews, it highlighted the tension between scientific progress and socioeconomic barriers. The series' innovative use of phylogenetic tracking to map transmission networks set a new standard for science journalism[1][3][8].
As consulting producer for this documentary, Cohen provided rare behind-the-scenes access to COVID-19 vaccine trials. The film's coverage of mRNA vaccine development timelines – from sequence publication to emergency authorization in 11 months – became a benchmark for explaining accelerated research processes[1][8].
This book redefined human-primate comparative biology reporting, blending field research from Uganda's Kibale Forest with genomic analysis. Cohen's examination of retroviral defenses in chimpanzee DNA informed later HIV origin theories[8][3].
Cohen prioritizes stories bridging lab research and real-world application. Successful pitches should address challenges in vaccine distribution, antimicrobial resistance patterns, or novel diagnostic tools for low-resource settings. His 2023 coverage of mpox vaccine equity demonstrates interest in geopolitical dimensions of disease control[1][4].
Pitches integrating virology with anthropology, economics, or climate science resonate strongly. Cohen's 2024 analysis of dengue spread in temperate zones linked entomological data with urbanization trends[3][8].
With 30+ years tracking HIV/AIDS, Cohen values longitudinal data on vaccine durability or pathogen evolution. A 2025 feature on 20-year HIV vaccine trial participants exemplifies this focus[1][8].
Recognized for "How to Survive a Pandemic," this honor underscores Cohen's ability to translate complex immunology for general audiences. The documentary's simultaneous publication of companion papers in Science set a precedent for integrated science communication[1][8].
Awarded for investigative reporting on Zika virus diagnostics, this highlighted Cohen's knack for identifying underreported technological breakthroughs in pathogen detection[3][8].
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Science, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
