Jason Mast at STAT has won the 2024 Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award, CASW’s annual prize for a young science journalist, for his reporting at the intersection of medical science, business, and human lives.
Mast submitted four stories related to the genetics of disease. Human stories were at the center of these reports, which explored the science and business decisions involved in getting expensive genetic therapies to people in need, as well as some ethical conundrums.
One dealt with people who carry a genetic trait for ALS but don’t have the condition. Mast also wrote about the challenge of getting access to a controversial drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A third explored the “crisis” facing gene therapy as scientists struggle to bring expensive therapies to patients with rare conditions. Mast also explored why gene therapy for hemophilia has reached so few people with that condition.
“Jason Mast’s reporting tackles how best to study cutting-edge therapies in people, and who gets to make those decisions,” wrote Monya Baker, one of the judges. “He navigates the fraught trade-offs in providing access to last-chance treatments versus causing harm or gaining clear results.”
Judge Nell Greenfieldboyce called the pieces moving and thought-provoking. “Mast expertly conveyed both the emerging potential of this science as well as the real-world roadblocks and conundrums faced by doctors, researchers, and patients,” she wrote.
Stephanie M. Lee, another judge, noted: “His features had creative angles and showcased his ability to find, forge trust with, and sensitively portray patients in vulnerable situations.”
“Jason’s entries showed off his skill at forging trust with patients and their families and establishing empathy for them in his stories,” wrote judge Rich Stone. “After drawing you in this way, he serves up healthy portions of science that result in satisfying and edifying reading experiences.”
Along with the winners of other 2024 awards conferred by CASW and the National Association of Science Writers, Mast will be honored this fall during the organizations’ jointly hosted meeting, ScienceWriters2024, to be held in Raleigh, N.C., in November.
Judges for the 2024 award were:
- Monya Baker, senior editor, Issues in Science and Technology
- Eva Emerson, editor in chief, Knowable Magazine
- Nell Greenfieldboyce, science correspondent at National Public Radio and a past recipient of the Clark/Payne award
- Stephanie M. Lee, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Rich Stone, senior science editor at HHMI’s Tangled Bank Studios, CASW board member, and a past recipient of the award
The highly competitive prize was created in 1989 to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting in all fields of science. It is given each year in honor of journalist Ev Clark, who offered friendship and advice to a generation of young reporters. The judging was organized by Richard Harris, former NPR science correspondent and CASW board member. For the first three decades, the judging was organized by John Carey, former long-time senior correspondent for Business Week and colleague of Seth Payne, who raised money for the award in memory of Ev Clark.
Entrants must be age 30 or younger. The deadline for submissions is the end of June each year. For more information, please see the Evert Clark page at casw.org.
