Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Emma Wilkinson

@emmajourno.bsky.social

2K followers 1.2K following 920 posts

Freelance journalist writing about medicine/health/biosciences. Bylines in BMJ, Pulse, Pharmaceutical Journal, Sunday Times, Lancet, BBC and more. Co-founder Freelancing for Journalists. Often found running up Sheffield hills.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · Mar 24

ULTRA WOMEN: The trailblazers defying sexism in sport will be published by Canbury Press in May (available to pre-order now). 'A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women' – Sue Anstiss, author www.canburypress.com/collections/...

PRESALE: Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson (ISBN: 9781914487101)

PRESALE. Book will be published on May 8th 2025. Buy it now and receive before publication. Books will be sent about two weeks from publication day (May 8th 2025). When it comes to the toughest races ...

www.canburypress.com

2 5 16

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5h

Whenever I see people doing this I just can’t compute at all…

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

Freelancing for Journalists @freelancingfor.bsky.social · 11h

Let's stop accepting excuses and demand respect and timely payment. Just one of the things we discuss on the pod today with Jem Collins of Journo Resources and Donna Ferguson of Women in Journalism.
Listen wherever you download your pods. freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/free...

guidelines for editors working with freelance journalists - Freelancing for Journalists

We talk all about the new best practice guidelines for editors working with freelancers covering rates of pay, contracts, briefs and more.

freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm

1 1

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 1d

Would love to chat to you about this Emma - runs off to email....

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 1d

I always thought it was a bonkers decision just from logistics - over 65s love to get their flu jab (great uptake compared with other groups), it was always going to cause mayhem to change the Covid jab from 65 to 75 because people don't understand why...

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 2d

Living near to a children’s hospital with its own A&E comes into its own when your 9yo comes out of school in full blown asthma attack… home now thanks for looking after us @sheffieldchildrens.bsky.social 🙌

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 2d

This is interesting. I often think about this re kids who missed out on vaccines in the Wakefield era who will now be in late teens/early 20s www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Their parents never got them vaccinated. As young adults, they faced a choice.

Falling vaccination rates around the country mean more will grow up without protection from debilitating diseases until they are old enough to decide for themselves, typically at age 18.

www.washingtonpost.com

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 2d

It does seem really confusing that your flu vaccine is over 65s and always has been but Covid now moved to over-75s. This was a group who were used to getting them at the same time. I'd reported on this for @pulsetoday.bsky.social now its hit the mainstream www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

Patients abusing pharmacists after being denied NHS Covid jab

Chemists claim 'poor communication' from health officials and a 'confusing' online booking system has left many patients unaware of the change until they arrive in store.

www.dailymail.co.uk

2 2 3

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 2d

Malaria vaccine has seen one of fastest ever roll outs. The hope when you finally have a way to protect children against a deadly disease versus the mistrust when vaccines have done their job so well you don't see the need anymore...

healthpolicy-watch.news/vaccinations...

Vaccinations Averted 17 Million Deaths In Past Five Years – But Global Challenges Persist - Health Policy Watch

Vaccinations have saved the lives of an estimated 17 million people between 2021 and 2024 – but global immunisation programmes face several challenges,

healthpolicy-watch.news

3 4

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 2d

Google AI results of who is on this year's @bookieprize.bsky.social longlist completely omits Ultra Women despite us being second on the actual longlist. Probably quote apt for a book that is all about women being overlooked for their achievements eh @lilycanter.bsky.social 🤦‍♀️

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3d

'Five years after having their first child, mums' earnings drop by an average of £1,051 a month compared with their salary one year before having a child.

But let's put that one into the "too hard to deal with" box and instead propose ICE-style arrests of migrants to grab the headlines.

True cost of becoming a mum highlighted in new data on pay

New figures reveal mums in England see their earnings drop after having a first, second and third child.

www.bbc.co.uk

18 50

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 3d

I only saw mean girls very recently when my teen wanted to watch it…

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 4d

Spent hours doing this at middle school….

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Verdict - hilarious 👍🏻

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Eight teen girls descending to have a birthday party movie night. Film of choice - the breakfast club 🙌

a man in a plaid shirt and a woman in a black skirt are standing in front of a store

ALT: a man in a plaid shirt and a woman in a black skirt are standing in front of a store

media.tenor.com

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

She’s also made these and done all the food and setting up. My work here is done!!

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Eight teen girls descending to have a birthday party movie night. Film of choice - the breakfast club 🙌

a man in a plaid shirt and a woman in a black skirt are standing in front of a store

ALT: a man in a plaid shirt and a woman in a black skirt are standing in front of a store

media.tenor.com

2 9

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Not even in the oven yet!

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Hey group of 14yo girls in my kitchen baking some biscuits, how come I can smell burning...

"Don't worry we just accidentally set a tea towel on fire" 😬

1 5

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

Has the 11yo learnt from ignoring me saying you need a coat today and then having to walk home 40 min in a storm wearing a t shirt and shorts. Prob not…

1 5

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 5d

🔺BREAKING: Michelle Mone: I won’t return to Lords as Tory peer

A company linked to the baroness has been ordered by a judge to pay £122 million for breaking PPE contract

Michelle Mone: I won’t return to Lords as Tory peer

www.thetimes.com

3 2 5

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 5d

It's been in the back of my mind for a while to pitch a piece on all the proven ways in which Sure Start was great and what a disaster it was to shut it down

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 6d

This is really tragic (and clear-cut) and yet her mother - given she was claiming it was somehow the paramedics fault - is still clearly incredibly delusional.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 6d

UK woman who refused cancer drugs was influenced by mother, inquest finds

Paloma Shemirani, 23, died after refusing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma despite doctors’ concerns A woman who died after refusing chemotherapy doctors had believed would have given her a strong chance of recovery was “adversely influenced” by her conspiracy theorist mother, a coroner has said. Paloma Shemirani died aged 23 in July 2024 after refusing conventional treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. On Thursday, the coroner in her inquest said the influence of her parents, Kay and Faramarz Shemirani, “more than minimally” contributed to her death. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

Medical Journalists' Association @mja-uk.bsky.social · 6d

Mosquitoes that carry dengue and chikungunya found in England for first time @sneweyy.bsky.social reports www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...

2 1

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

Freelancing for Journalists @freelancingfor.bsky.social · 7d

The shortlist for our Freelance Journalism Awards 2025 is out. Check out this week's newsletter everyone open.substack.com/pub/freelanc...

Freelance Journalism Awards 2025 Shortlist!

Let's see who our finalists are

open.substack.com

1 1

Reposted by Emma Wilkinson

Hannah Fearn @hannahfearn.bsky.social · 7d

WOW! Chuffed to bits to discover that I'm shortlisted for two awards in this year's Freelance Journalism Awards, run by @freelancingfor.bsky.social

I'm up for best news story and best columnist.

When you're working outside the structure of a newsroom career, moments like this are so helpful!

10 10 140

Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 7d

Michelle Mone says they’ve been scapegoated and company on brink of collapse

Hang on a minute I’m trying to find my teeny tiny violin to play but it’s so small it appears to have vanished…

www.thetimes.com/article/a974...

Michelle Mone-linked firm must pay £122m for breaking PPE contract

PPE Medro has two weeks to pay compensation for ‘faulty’ gowns

www.thetimes.com

3 4