About relationships, reporter connects with readers

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and reveals the inside story behind our journalism.

Catherine Pearson is a no-nonsense reporter for The Recent York Times’ Well section, where she has covered the differences in sexual libido in relationships, the epidemic of male loneliness, and postpartum depression.

Every now and then something happens that really gets to me.

“I had a lot of friends who teased me, saying, ‘You are person writing the 5-Day Friendship Challenge?” Ms. Pearson said in an interview. “I’m quite an introvert, but I’m trying harder now.”

Ms. Pearson joined The Times in spring 2022 from The Huffington Post, where she spent 11 years writing about gender and health. Her reporting for Well focuses on families, romantic relationships, and friendships, with an emphasis on creating better connections.

“That’s all that matters to people,” she said of her rhythm. “I try to be careful not to give the same advice you read over and over again, like, ‘Put yourself out there.’”

In an interview at her home in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Ms. Pearson discussed the challenges of finding sources and one piece of advice that has stuck with her. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Where did your journalistic career begin?

My first writing job was at a sailing magazine, of all places. I had just gotten out of college and needed to make money. It turned out to be an captivating place to learn the ropes of journalism, partly because I had no idea what I was writing about. I had to learn a lot of technical sailing vocabulary. At the time, the editorial staff was also being decimated by layoffs. So I ended up doing things a 22-year-old shouldn’t be doing, like helping send the magazine to the printers and signing off the final proofs of the issues.

What interests you about medical journalism?

Translating research is such a chilly and invigorating challenge. People are hungry for good health journalism. There’s such a huge demand for it. We all have circumscribed time with our primary care providers—if we’re lucky enough to have them—so writing about health seems like a unique opportunity to connect with readers.

Where do you usually find article ideas?

A lot of them come from brainstorming with members of the Well desk or questions I have from my own life. I spend a lot of time on Reddit and in various Facebook groups where people talk about things they might not feel comfortable talking about in real life.

We’re also lucky to have an engaged readership. Sometimes I write a story that gets over 1,500 comments; the readers generate other questions and story ideas that have become a great resource.

Is there a particular article you are particularly proud of working on?

I worked with Tiffanie Graham on a piece about what it really takes to breastfeed. We were able to find women and photograph them pumping in a supply closet in the middle of the workday. It was amazing to get that intimate access.

Do you find it hard to find sources for your articles?

It’s a fun part of the job. But it’s demanding to find people who want to talk openly about certain topics, so it takes a lot of time.

How do you approach your sources?

You have to be really straightforward with people. I offer them examples of my stories and describe who I am, why I’m interested in the topic, and what questions I have about it. Then I ask, “Are you open to a five-minute conversation so I can introduce myself?”

For some sexual health stories, we work with the Times’ Standards team, which oversees our ethical guidelines, to identify cases where sources can remain anonymous. The bar is high, and everyone takes great care to ensure that this is appropriate. There are times when sources need to remain anonymous so that we can share the most intimate aspects of their sex lives.

You’ve gotten so much advice from experts over the years. What’s something that sticks in your mind?

I recently wrote a story about the power of “I statements,” which are ways of communicating with your partner. Instead of saying, “You always do this or that,” you say, “I feel X, Y, or Z.” This is something I try to pay attention to in my relationship. My husband will laugh and say, “Do you do what you wrote in that story?”

What constitutes good service journalism?

Lori Leibovich, editor of Well, really emphasizes surprise. That can be demanding when you’re writing about the same topics over and over. Sometimes that can mean interviewing a source multiple times and pushing for something unique. It’s also vital to be conversational. Readers don’t want a desiccated or tedious story. You want to come across as a wise best friend. That’s my goal.