FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about Immunocompromised Times:
1. Are all of your newsletter subscribers immunocompromised?
Nope. Not at all. COVID-cautious and immunocompetent (immunocompetent means: not immunocompromised) people with clinically vulnerable friends and family members subscribe as well as science informed people who want to avoid COVID.
2. Mainstream media outlets have award winning newsrooms and staff reporters covering this beat. How can one human with a reader-subsidized publication compete with them.
High quality, feature stories where peer-reviewed science meets a firsthand account of risk navigation from an immunocompromised perspective is surprisingly rare.
Since an entire 3% of the population is immunocompromised you would think there would more but a lot of immunocompromised people covering this but many of them would rather not publicly share the fact they have a chronic medical condition that compromises their immune system because of job discrimination concerns. I had to weight out the plusses and minuses of disclosing my own immunocompromised story before launching Immunocompromised Times in April 2022 and am still adjusting to the idea that this is a genie I’ll never be able to put back in the bottle again.
As lack of disability representation in newsrooms is a systemic problem, also I’m hoping to eventually post three articles a month that are reader subsidized.
3. Who are you?
I am Susanna Speier, a Denver-based, immunocompromised journalist. I earned my beat reporting stripes working as Chief Content Officer for the Private Investigation firm Ross Investigators from 2014 to 2020.
Prior to life as a professional Watson, I lived New York and Los Angeles and worked in the film, television and theater industries. I earned my MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College, C.U.N.Y my a BA in Cultural Studies from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. I grew up in Washington, D.C. and in McLean, Virginia.
Although I have science journalism bylines, I am not a scientist. Interviewing scientists and making sense of scientific research studies pushes me to cultivate my own critical thinking literacy and challenge previous assumptions. My essay, Vaccinated, boosted and ready to write goes more in depth on this.
4. Are paid subscribers funding the lattes you order on Door Dash?
I wish. In fact just the mention is making me crave one with an almond croissant on the side. My personal expenses draw from an entirely different account, however. Freelance earning and savings cover personal expenses like lattes and that’s an entirely different account.
My business account, Susanna Speier, LLC is registered with the State of Colorado is in good standing. Forest Tax Accounting in Aurora, Colorado helps with my annual tax submissions.
I am researching development grants, partnerships and sponsorship and/or advertising models to generate revenue so that I can pursue podcast and video projects in 2023.
5. What would you be able to cover if you had more paid subscribers?
(1) pay the professional freelance editors I hire without having to draw from my personal bank account (2) keep professional memberships current (3) workshops and trainings and conferences (4) update logo and other graphic elements (5) videographer and video editor so I can post reels on You Tube and Instagram
6. Why not find people willing to work pro bono in exchange for exposure ?
--Ewwww. Ew ew ew ew ew. No. no no no. “Exposure” gah!! ew ew ew.
7. Do you get free stuff when you write about consumer products?
In adherence to Society of Professional Journalists ethical guidelines I will not accept gifts worth anything over $25
8. What if I can’t afford to be a paid subscriber?
If you couldn’t afford a paid subscription earlier you’re in luck since I recently dropped all my paid subscriber rates so please reconsider becoming a paid subscriber. And even if you can’t become a paid subscriber, please share articles that resonate with you on social media platforms, direct messages and by liking and commenting directly on Substack. If there’s a specific individual who would like to read it recommend the newsletter to them.
