Media Profile

Biopharma Beats Bulletin: Spotlight on Ryan Flinn, Video Correspondent, BiotechTV

Background

  • Name: Ryan Flinn
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Home Base: Oakland, California
  • Role: Video correspondent covering AI in healthcare for BiotechTV, while contributing to multiple medical and science publications including American Journal of Managed Care’s Evidence-Based Oncology, Managed Healthcare Executive, and Cure.
  • Expertise: Former Bloomberg journalist turned communications executive who now bridges both worlds, bringing unique storytelling skills honed over 25 years in journalism and communications leadership roles at pharmaceutical companies. Ryan is a member of T2B and when he participates in our community, he’s strictly wearing his comms hat.

Beat Overview

  • Publication: BiotechTV is his primary video platform where he’s focusing on AI applications in healthcare, creating two monthly video interviews and producing two TikTok explainer videos per week.
  • Coverage Areas: Primarily AI applications in drug discovery and development, with broader reporting on healthcare innovation across multiple publications.
    • He also writes for AJMC’s Evidence-Based Oncology (quarterly features on cancer care trends), Managed Healthcare Executive (6-9 monthly articles on topics like cell/gene therapy), and Cure (weekly news and features on rare disease, cancer, women’s health with entrepreneur focus).
  • Angles of Interest: How AI is impacting drug discovery and drug development
    • Ryan’s goal is to expose the potential of AI in drug discovery and development.
    • He is most interested in interviewing C-suite executives who can speak in simple language. As you are preparing executives, ask them to “consider how they would explain this topic to someone at a family BBQ.”

Pitching Tips

  • Content Focus: Structure your pitch around problem-solution-potential framework
    • Begin with the problem being solved, then follow with your innovative solution and its potential impact.
    • Even if you have to include lengthy language to appease legal, make sure at the top you call out the “so what” and “why people should care.”
  • Subject Lines: Keep them direct and informative
    • Prefers a direct subject line that explains what’s being offered. Include “Media Pitch” in the subject line so it stands out from newsletters and spam.
  • Interview Prep: Prepare executives to speak conversationally, not from scripts
    • He’s aiming to have a conversation. If the conversation feels scripted, he will ask the question another way to elicit a stronger soundbite. He added, “Don’t prepare for an interview like the SATs. I want a conversation.”

Pet Peeves

  • Weightless Claims: Companies claiming AI capabilities without specifics
    • Looking for specifics. For instance, if you just announced a deal with an AI company, expose what problem you are solving for and the potential of this deal. “Let me know what your exec can share beyond the press release”, he added.
  • Over-Guarded Executives: Too much message control kills authentic communication
    • Having worked in communications, Ryan understands (and appreciates) the level of executive preparation that goes on behind the scenes. He suggests coaching executives to frame their message in problem-solution-potential to explain the company’s AI development in simple terms. Ryan emphasizes, “I want that video podcast feel where it’s two people hanging out, just having a conversation.”
  • Forgetting the Audience: Pitches that miss the “so what” factor
    • He wants pitches to go beyond the press release, “if you’re pitching a new product feature, tell me why anyone should care. Don’t just share the press release.”

Key Quotes

“My beat is AI. I’m looking for companies applying AI to solve real problems in biopharma, not just using ‘AI’ as magical fairy dust marketing.”

“Like most journalists, I’m looking for an executive to humanize the detailed scientific report. I can read studies, I can figure out what they mean, but I need someone to give me quotes that tell me in English why it’s important.”

Lightning Round

  • Follow-ups: It’s OK to follow up once or twice – he notes that “as a journalist your job is to talk to people” and he welcomes the engagement.
  • Interview Format: Prefers sit-down, conversational video interviews versus formal standing positions, “I want to do fireside chat style interviews where we’re sitting down, relaxed, having a conversation.”
  • Best Pitching Time: More likely to respond in the mornings, before noon PT.
  • News Sources: Uses X and Linkedin; not sold on Bluesky. To curate news, uses Feedly.com based on select topics and outlets he is interested in.