Experience the Thrill of Being a Travel Journalist
1 August 2008 Post Author:
Amandah Blackwell Print This Post Email This Post
Journalism jobs are very popular in surveys of what jobs college and university students would like. Travel writers who would like to transition into travel journalism already have an advantage. They have been writing for years and have the experience. Aspiring travel writers have an advantage as well because they most likely have the passion, drive, determination, persistence, and a degree of writing skill; especially if they already wrote a few travel articles.
Travel writing can be a great start to becoming a travel journalist. Writing, no matter the genre, is a skill. Some people either have natural writing talent or not. Courses can help improve writing skills. The AWAI offers courses on copywritng, information publishing, web marketing, and travel writing. Before signing up for a class, find people who have taken their courses. Do research before investing in any type of coursework. Visit the local community colleges because they offer writing and journalism courses. Make an appointment to speak with a representative and ask if it’s possible to sit in on a class. While you are there, take notes!
Travel writers who want to be on a show like The Travel Channel or the local television stations, it may require more work. Peruse the job listings of local television stations, submit travel articles to local newspapers, and keep the faith that the Gods will smile upon your dream.
How many people remember the Nike slogan “Just Do It?” That’s exactly what it will take to be a travel journalist. Here’s an excerpt from edu-updates:
“If you’ve got a hobby (travel), you can often write for the publications that serve that hobby to start building up a portfolio. If there’s an event or trade show (RV shows aka travel) locally, you might be able to cover it for the national or international business or trade press because they can’t send anyone else.”
Finally, to become a travel journalist, build or enhance skills such as photography, HTML, and article marketing. Learn a foreign language or two. Build a database of contacts. It’s important to be surrounded by “like-minded” people. Seek out mentors who are willing to act as a guide and teacher. Read books published by travel journalists and study their writing style. Find and read publications in a particular niche that is of interest. Most publications are online so the expense will be minimal. Polish your grammar and sentence structure skills. Keep abreast of current events in the industry. Dream it, believe it, and achieve it!