how to become a travel journalist for national geographic

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How to become a journalist for national geographic.

National Geographic magazine was created by the National Geographic Society in 1888. In the decades since, the magazine has developed a loyal readership intrigued by its in-depth articles and eye-catching photos covering everything from the wonders of nature to the history of humankind. If you would like to be a part of National Geographic as a writer or photographer, review the writer’s guidelines for its publications.

National Geographic Magazine

Of all the National Geographic magazines, this will be the toughest publication to write for because there is so much competition for jobs. According to the magazine's website, many of its writers have studied the sciences, journalism and English. Some have also studied several languages. Most have extensive experience working for newspapers or magazines. If you seek a staff position as a writer, you will likely need expertise in some of these areas as well as prior experience in journalism. To search for a job as a journalist, go to the National Geographic website and click on these links in order: general, jobs, and career opportunities.

Write for National Geographic Traveler

National Geographic Traveler is published eight times a year. It looks for stories on locales that most travelers will go to on vacation – not just wealthy travelers. For staff writer positions, go to the National Geographic website and click on these links in order: general, jobs, and career opportunities. Unlike National Geographic magazine, National Geographic Traveler does encourage queries from freelance writers. The magazine prefers articles on national and state parks, historic places, train trips, cruises, driving trips and undiscovered places. According to the magazine's website, writers should "see destinations with fresh eyes and real insight. We place a premium on surprise and good storytelling." Unsolicited articles are discouraged. Write one or two well-developed proposals that do not exceed one page each. Send it with resume, writing samples and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Query Editor.

Take Photos for National Geographic Traveler

National Geographic Traveler has staff photographer positions available from time to time. To find out what's available, go to the National Geographic website and click on these links in order: general, jobs, and career opportunities. National Geographic Traveler also encourages queries from photographers. Assignments are not made to photographers who cannot provide evidence that their published work was taken on assignment. The publication suggests you hone your skills by viewing Glimpse.org. When you feel ready, select the story idea for your photo. Next, create a portfolio that includes no more than 100 photos that you took on assignment. This will demonstrate you can meet the requirement of the publication’s writer’s guidelines. Submit your portfolio to one of the photo editors and send it along with a SASE.

National Geographic Kids

Published 10 times per year, National Geographic Kids magazine is for ages six to 14 years of age. To see if staff writer positions are available, go to the National Geographic website and follow the same instructions included in Sections 1 and 2 above. If you want to get your foot in the door as a freelancer, you will need the expertise to write articles on natural history, science, history and geography. The staff will assign most stories to you. However, you can pitch fun ideas. Just think from a kid’s perspective. Unsolicited manuscripts and phone queries are not accepted. Send a query letter of 250 words with a headline. Queries by mail should be sent to the Science Editor, Associate Editor or Editorial Assistant. You can send your photography pitches to the photo director.

Related Articles

Salary of a national geographic staff photographer →.

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• National Geographic Traveler: Writers Guidelines
• National Geographic Traveler: Photographers Guidelines
• History: National Geographic Society Founded

Based in Atlanta, Leslie E. Royal has been writing consumer, business, career, religion and travel articles since 1995. Her work has appeared in "Essence," "Black Enterprise" and "Upscale" magazines. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Georgia State University and a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary and University.

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How to become a travel writer

Is becoming a travel writer right for me.

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Still unsure if becoming a travel writer is the right career path? Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a travel writer or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

How to become a Travel Writer

Becoming a travel writer requires a passion for travel, strong writing skills, and the ability to conduct thorough research. Here are the steps to becoming a travel writer:

• Develop strong writing skills: Strong writing skills are essential for becoming a travel writer. Take writing courses or workshops, read widely, and practice writing regularly. You can start a blog or contribute to online publications to gain experience and build a portfolio.
• Travel extensively: Traveling is the foundation of becoming a travel writer. You need to explore new places, immerse yourself in different cultures, and experience the world firsthand. Start by exploring your own region, and then expand your travels to more distant destinations.
• Read extensively: Read extensively to gain inspiration and to learn from other travel writers. Read travel books, travel magazines, and online publications to learn about different writing styles and to gain an understanding of the industry.
• Choose a niche: Decide on a niche or specialty that sets you apart from other travel writers. Consider focusing on adventure travel, budget travel, luxury travel, family travel, or cultural travel, for example. This will help you develop a unique voice and make it easier to pitch stories to editors.
• Build a portfolio: Build a portfolio of your travel writing. This can include blog posts, articles, and other published work. Consider submitting your writing to online publications or local newspapers to gain experience and exposure.
• Network with other writers and industry professionals: Attend travel writing conferences, join travel writing organizations, and network with other writers and industry professionals. This will help you learn about the industry and gain insights into the latest trends and opportunities.
• Pitch stories to editors: Once you have a portfolio of writing, start pitching story ideas to editors of travel magazines, newspapers, and websites. Research the publication and understand its editorial style, and tailor your pitch accordingly. Be persistent and follow up on your pitches.
• Be prepared for rejection: Rejection is a common experience for travel writers, and it's important to be prepared for it. Keep refining your writing skills and your portfolio, and don't be discouraged by rejection.
• Consider freelancing: Many travel writers work as freelancers, writing for multiple publications or clients. Consider building a freelance career and working with a variety of clients to gain experience and exposure.

Formal Education There is no specific formal education required to become a travel writer, but a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism , Writing , Creative Writing , English , or Communications can provide a solid foundation in writing and research skills that are essential for a career in travel writing. Some colleges and universities offer travel writing courses or workshops as part of their English or creative writing programs.

Additionally, courses in photography , videography, and social media can be helpful in developing the skills needed to produce compelling content for a travel writing career. Knowledge of website design and development, search engine optimization, and digital marketing can also be beneficial for building an online presence as a travel writer.

Certifications There are a few certifications that can be helpful in developing the skills and knowledge needed for a career in travel writing.

• The International Travel Writing and Photography Academy offers courses and certifications in travel writing, photography, and videography. These courses cover topics such as researching and pitching stories, travel photography and videography, and digital marketing for travel writers.
• The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) offers a Travel Journalism and Photography Internship Program, which provides hands-on experience in travel writing, photography, and videography. This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in travel journalism.
• The Professional Association of Travel Writers (PATW) offers a certification program for travel writers. The program requires completion of a series of courses and the submission of a portfolio of published work. The certification is designed to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in travel writing and to provide credibility to potential clients.
• The American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI) offers a travel writing program that covers topics such as finding story ideas, conducting research, and pitching stories to editors. The program includes a series of courses and provides access to a community of travel writers and industry professionals.

Online Resources There are many online resources available for travel writers that can provide inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for networking and professional development. Here are some examples:

• Travel Writing World: This podcast features interviews with travel writers and industry professionals, covering topics such as finding your niche, pitching stories to editors, and building a freelance career.
• Matador Network: This website features articles, photography, and video content from a global network of travel writers and photographers. Matador Network also offers courses and resources for travel writers.
• Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a well-known travel guidebook publisher that also features travel articles and destination guides on its website. Lonely Planet also offers a travel writing competition and resources for aspiring travel writers.
• Writers in the Sky: This website features a directory of travel writing courses and workshops, as well as resources for finding jobs and opportunities in travel writing.
• Society of American Travel Writers: The Society of American Travel Writers is a professional organization for travel writers, photographers, and industry professionals. SATW offers networking opportunities, a mentorship program, and an annual conference.
• Travel Massive: Travel Massive is a global network of travel industry professionals, including travel writers, bloggers, and photographers. The organization offers networking events, workshops, and online resources.
• Travel Blog Success: This website offers courses and resources for travel bloggers, including tips for building a successful blog and strategies for monetizing your content.
• National Geographic: National Geographic is a well-respected publisher of travel articles and photography, and offers resources for aspiring travel writers and photographers on its website.

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How to Become a Travel Journalist

• Career Types
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Who is a Travel Journalist?

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness ~ Mark Twain

Many of you think of travelling the world, roam around on the unknown streets, meet new people, but have you ever wondered if you will get paid for this? Sounds amazing right? This could be your dream job, is not it? A travel journalist is one who travels to different locations, explores them, researches their cultural heritage, and then writes about everything. 

Journalism  does have its own challenges. If you have a passion for research and travel and are willing to compromise on financial security, you could really start your career as a Travel Journalist. The job of a Travel Journalist involves researching and writing about the places, their heritage, culture, food and people. Here, in this article, we will be discussing what does a travel journalist do, travel journalist salary, how to become a travel journalist, travel journalist in India, travel journalist job description, what is travel journalism.

Travel Journalist in a Nutshell

The career of a travel journalist is full of passion, excitement and responsibility. Journalism as a career could be challenging at times, but if you're someone who has been genuinely enthusiastic about all this, then it is the best decision for you. Travel journalism jobs are all about insightful, artfully written, informative narratives designed to cover the travel industry. Travel Journalist is someone who explores, gathers and presents information as a news article.

Quick Facts for Travel Journalist

Tourism, Media

Male, Female, Others

Individuals can take up a career as Travel Journalists, it is not gender-specific. Males, women, and others can choose a career as Travel Journalists. In India, a male and female Travel Journalist enjoys equal benefits because gender is insignificant in this career.

As long as the individual's disability is not hampering the work, anyone, with any disability can become a travel journalist.

Table of Contents for Travel Journalist

What is the role of travel journalist.

A travel journalist usually narrates a tale about people who are unique to that place and conveys the factual information. The aim of travel journalism is to promote a wider understanding and knowledge of the world in which we live, to make the readers visit places in imagination with their blogs and articles. Travel journalists tell the stories and give more insight into locations which go beyond a review of a restaurant, festival, or museum. 

Individual in the travel journalism jobs is a storyteller. He or she writes and reviews stories about locations, culture and entertainment. The Travel Journalist provides detailed information so that people can develop their views and make more informed decisions.

Create ideas

As a travel journalist is regarded as a storyteller, the very first step towards becoming a storyteller is to have a story concept. A travel journalist needs to find the lead for the article he or she wants to cover. The concept of the plot is generally the area or the beat in which the travel journalist operates.

Taking interviews

Travel journalists take interviews of people regarding the current story they are covering, helping in gathering information and adding up to the research work. If travel journalists interview more people, more voices give them credibility to their story. It is extremely important for a journalist to do his or her research before going to an interview, particularly if the interviewee is a well-known person. Prior to actually conducting an interview, one should prepare a set of questions though in this profession one has to be very impromptu.

Once a Travel Journalist has completed his or her research work or interviews, certain information gathered must be checked for factual information. It helps the individual to avoid any kind of problems in the future. One has to be sure that the information provided by the interviewee is reliable, or one may also mention the source of the data while filling out the document.

Photography

Travel Journalists take photographs of people and different places, based on the current story which they are covering, helping in collecting information and adding up to the research work. They take pictures which depict the accrual scenario in a proper way.

Types of a Travel Journalist

Reporter : Reporters conduct interviews, find the source, and collect all the information needed to write a well-rounded news article. Reporters will also present data in writing or verbally in news stories, documentaries or feature stories. Reporters cover all sorts of news articles, and others may specialise in areas like sports, lifestyle or politics. A reporter should have the intellect to draw a distinction between story and objectivity.

Photojournalist :  Photojournalists may work as freelance photographers or may be appointed by photo agencies, publications or local newspapers. The areas of employment also include digital media, television and printing. A photojournalist is one who photographs, edits, and displays photographs to tell a visual story. The photojournalists interpret and interact with the event through photographs.

News Editor:  The news editor is the person responsible for all news reporters. Individuals make these decisions about what storylines to cover and who is going to do the work. In large media organisations, the news editor may well have a deputy, sometimes referred to as the Chief of Staff, whose job it is to allocate journalists to selected stories.

What is the workplace/work environment of Travel Journalist like?

Individuals in the career as travel journalist needs to go out on the field, gather information, and then compile a story. The journalist's job is both physically and mentally demanding. It is a job for people those who do not like boredom in their day to day life. They work on filed, travel the whole world, meet different people. Their work station also changes regularly.

Does Travel Journalist require travelling?

As travel journalists, you need to travel a lot locally if there is a storey that breaks. Travel journalists need to travel every now and then, depending on the requirement of a story, or in the case of any event to be covered. Individuals in the career as travel journalists travel not only when a particular story is needed, but they also travel on their own, when they actually want to visit a place.

Employment Shifts

Full time, part time.

The shift in the employment of a travel journalist is both full-time and part-time in nature. The duration is generally between 40-45 hours per week. It often stretches depending on the individual's workload. Many times there are incidents that can happen late at night, and a travel journalist is also required to cover them.

Employment Nature

Contractual, permanent.

Travel Journalists work full time, part-time and also work as a freelancer. Individuals in the career as travel journalists work whenever they want to. But while working for any media houses they need to work accordingly.

Home Office, On-Field, Office

The nature of the employment of travel journalists are permanent and also of a freelance nature. The firm hires him or her on a full-time or part-time basis. Individuals in the career as travel journalists may be required to work in almost all kinds of scenarios, as it is his or her job to provide information to the people. They travel a lot to gather information. Travel journalists do not really work in an office environment. Though while editing and writing the news article they need particular space for that.

Presence in Geographical Area

Semi-urban, urban.

Travel Journalists mostly work in urban or semi-urban locations. If any incidents happen then journalists from the nearest branch of the media house are sent. But it is not limited only to the country, but also to other countries.

Time Pressure

A Travel Journalist’s job is time-bound. He or she constantly works under time pressure. Deadlines are stapled in the field of journalism. They sometimes work under pressure when some news to be covered in a short notice.

Overtime Details

A travel journalist may have to work overtime in order to meet the desired target or deadline. However, due to travel inconveniences, they may be forced to work overtime.

Weekly Hours of Work

Min 45 hours.

A travel journalist does not have a minimum working hour condition, but one has a goal to complete. Every Travel Journalist needs to file the required number of stories set as a target. But travel reporters generally work around eight-nine hours a day on average.

How to become a Travel Journalist?

Steps to become a travel journalist.

Embarking to become a travel journalist in India involves a blend of passion, skills, and strategic steps. This guide unveils the key elements of "How to Become a Travel Journalist in India," offering insights into the educational path, essential skills, and practical tips to kickstart a rewarding career in capturing the world’s wonders through the lens of journalism.

Identify the Skills

Enrol in formal education, pursue specialisation/certification courses, build a portfolio, look for internship/job opportunities, begin a career.

Developing a successful career as a Travel Journalist in India demands a blend of precise hard and soft skills. From adept storytelling techniques to interpersonal finesse, mastering these essential Travel Journalist skills is key to navigating the diverse landscapes of journalism while capturing the essence of travel. Here are some of Travel Journalist skills:

Hard Skills

Proficient Writing and Editing Skills

Photography and Videography

Research and Fact-Checking Abilities

Digital Content Creation

Multimedia Storytelling

Social Media Management

Soft Skills

Curiosity and Open-Mindedness

Adaptability and Flexibility

Communication and Interviewing Skills

Creativity and Innovation

Time Management and Organization

For aspiring Travel Journalists in India, enrolling in formal education is a pivotal step. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism, communication, or a related field like B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication  lays a strong foundation, while a master's degree like M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication can offer specialised knowledge. 

Many universities and institutes across India offer journalism programmes with varying eligibility criteria; aspiring journalists may need to undergo entrance exams like DU-JAT ,  JNU-EE to secure admission and embark on their journey to meet Travel Journalist qualifications.

To enhance Travel Journalist qualifications in India, consider pursuing specialized courses or certifications in travel writing, multimedia storytelling, or journalism. These focused programs cater to the evolving demands of the industry and can provide valuable insights. Eligibility criteria may vary, but such courses often welcome individuals with a passion for travel and storytelling, offering a targeted approach to building essential skills for a successful career as a Travel Journalist.

Building a compelling portfolio is indispensable for aspiring Travel Journalists in India. Curate a diverse collection showcasing your writing, photography, and multimedia skills to reflect the depth of your storytelling abilities. This portfolio not only highlights your versatility but also serves as a key tool for potential employers or clients when considering you for various Travel Journalist roles and responsibilities in the dynamic field of travel journalism.

Securing internships or job opportunities is crucial for aspiring Travel Journalists in India to gain hands-on experience. Seek a job profile that aligns with Travel Journalist roles and responsibilities, offering exposure to writing, photography, and content creation in the travel domain. These experiences not only hone skills but also provide insights into the dynamic world of travel journalism, preparing individuals for the multifaceted demands of the profession.

The final step in becoming a Travel Journalist in India is to embark on your career journey. Leverage your education, skills, and experiences gained through internships to secure opportunities with reputable publications, travel agencies, or freelance projects. Establish a strong online presence, network within the industry, and consistently showcase your travel journalism portfolio to carve a successful path in this dynamic and rewarding field.

What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Travel Journalist?

• Communication skills
• Research skills
• Writing skills

In, in this article, we will discuss how to become a travel journalist and skills are required by travel journalist.

Communication skill : A Travel Journalist must have good communication skills. Workplace contact is important for Travel Journalist because it allows them to be successful and operate properly. They need to communicate with people for their resources and to take people's reaction. They even take interviews with well-known people, for these communications skills are very important.

Writing skills : Travel Journalist needs to be skilled at communicating clear ideas and thoughts. Most journalists will start writing before the start of their work. It is not just about good writing, but also about building knowledge of various writing styles. Travel Journalist writes about the information which they have collected from various places. 

Research skills : Research skills for journalists is a comprehensive, approachable and highly functional guide to the development of a diverse set of skills necessary to make well-researched, journalistic integrity across a wide variety of platforms. Travel Journalists are expected to be highly dedicated to any article. To know the news, to look in the right places, to find the story, to analyse the narrative and, finally, to tell the full story in an impartial, uncompromised and accurate way. 

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Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Travel Journalist?

We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt who want to establish a career as a Travel Journalist.

Certified News Editor

Certified Online Journalist

Certified Technical Writer

Internship Availability

Internships are proven to be the ideal way to gain experience in a travel journalist career path. Internships allow the candidate to build relationships in the field for future use. If he or she performs well throughout the internship, a lot of companies or organisations also might recruit a candidate on a full-time basis. This is such a field, where internship really adds a value to the candidate’s career. Candidates can find internship opportunities in media houses for two or three months. Mostly travel journalism internships are unpaid, but eventually, those companies hire those interns after the

Career Path Progression for Travel Journalist

Staff Travel Journalist:  As a Staff Travel Journalist, you will immerse yourself in researching, writing, and crafting engaging narratives about diverse travel destinations. Your role involves capturing the essence of places, sharing unique experiences, and contributing compelling content to a media outlet or travel publication.

Travel Editor: As a Travel Editor, you will lead and manage the travel content for a publication or website. This role requires a keen editorial eye, overseeing the curation, editing, and publication of articles. Your responsibility is to maintain the publication's quality standards and ensure that each piece resonates with the target audience.

Travel Journalist Jobs and Salaries

Staff travel journalist.

Contractual/Permanent

• Average Salary 25000

Job Description

Staff Travel Journalist work is very basic in the field of journalism. They will be responsible for researching, writing, and producing engaging content on various travel destinations. Collaborate with editors and photographers to create compelling narratives that captivate readers and convey the essence of each location.

Salary Description

Salaries in this career largely depend on the company and the role that an individual occupies. At the beginning of their career, they get get basic pay. And eventually, they earn more than Rs. 25000 per month.

Travel Editor

• Average Salary 50000

As a Travel Editor, your role involves overseeing and managing travel content for a publication. You will be responsible for editing and curating articles, collaborating with writers, and shaping the overall travel narrative to ensure it aligns with the publication's voice and editorial guidelines. This position requires a keen eye for detail, strong editing skills, and a passion for creating compelling travel stories.

The salaries of Travel editor depend on career growth or rely entirely on the experience of the particular field. The salary of Travel editor depends mainly on experience. The Travel Editor receive on average up to Rs. six lakhs a year.  Source - (GLASSDOOR)

What is the job outlook for Travel Journalist?

A candidate who wants to become a travel journalist is experiencing major job growth. When an individual gains experience and understanding, he or she gets higher ranks in the field of journalism. Because the field is massive and continues to expand, there are plenty of possibilities for employment growth. The life of a travel journalist could be exhausting and somewhat expensive, but somebody who wants to explore the whole world will consider it a most satisfying adventure. 

Travel Journalism does not assure a huge amount of money, especially in the early stages of the career, and people can not expect a lot of salaries as there will be thousands of people out there who can do the unpaid work. There is also no stability both in the income and the job. But definitely, it can be said that this job is for those who do not want monotony in their career.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Travel Journalist

Que. is travel journalism a good career.

Travel Journalism does not ensure a great deal of money, especially in the early stages of your career, and you can not just expect a huge amount of money as there will be millions of people out there who can do your work for free.

Que. Is journalism a dying field?

Journalism is certainly not dying, but it is changing and competitive. You need to be excellent at editing your multimedia content. We might think that print media is dying because of the digital era, but no media is actually dying.

Que. Is journalism a stressful job?

Journalists have to deal with time constraints, stressful working environments, insane deadlines, travel, demanding editorial staff, a much more demanding public, and anxiety of being laid off. By all of these, you can surely understand it is a stressful job, but if you have the passion of being a journalist nothing can stop you.

Que. Is it difficult to become a journalist?

Working as a reporter could be an exciting and challenging job. However, it can also be difficult work that often leads to unpleasant stories and constructive criticism, and not pays well compared to other professions.

Que. What do travel journalists write about?

Travel journalists have their own individual knowledge and expertise to define tourist attractions for different kinds of publications. Such writings may be in the type of blurbs, articles, documentaries or travel guides. They usually accompany their writings with photos of the destinations they visit.

Que. What degree do you need to be a travel journalist?

To become a travel journalist, a degree in journalism, communication, or a related field is beneficial, providing a solid foundation in writing and storytelling.

Que. Which course is best for travel journalism?

The best courses for travel journalism often include elements of journalism, multimedia storytelling, and travel writing to equip aspiring journalists with the necessary skills for the field.

Que. What skills do you need for travel journalism?

Essential skills for travel journalism include strong writing abilities, photography skills, cultural sensitivity, and a passion for exploration, enabling journalists to capture and convey compelling stories about diverse destinations.

Que. How to become a travel journalist for the National Geographic?

To become a travel journalist for National Geographic, consider gaining relevant experience through internships or freelance work, build a diverse portfolio showcasing your writing and photography skills, and network within the industry to increase visibility and opportunities with the renowned publication.

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Questions related to Travel Journalist

I want to study travel journalism in particular and this year i was supposed to appear for my 12th boards, which got cancelled. i want to know which courses of journalism shall i take to become a travel journalist, which subjects shall i study and which colleges would be the best to study..

Hello Aspirant,

Courses to opt to become a travel journalist are as follows:

• B.J. (Bachelor of Journalism)
• B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) Journalism
• B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media)
• B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication
• B.A. in Journalism and Mass Media
• B.A. in Journalism and Communication Studies to be a journalist

Best Colleges you can go for:

• Asian College of Journalism
• Indian Institute of Mass Communication
• Xavier's Institute of Communication
• Symbiosis International University
• Delhi University
• GGS IP University
• Amity University
• Jamia Millia Islamia.

For more information about the course, check this link mentioned below: https://www.careers360.com/careers/travel-journalist

Hope this information helps you!

All the best!

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How To Become A Travel Journalist

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I became a travel journalist as a second career back in 2004. It was a lifestyle change from a corporate career in telecommunications to a more carefree existence that allowed me to travel the world (I’ve been to all seven continents and 66 countries). Little did I know how fast the journalist and travel landscapes would change. I can relate to this quote about travel writing by Paul Theroux “He regarded himself as an accomplished writer — a clear sign of madness in anyone.”

When I first started, it was difficult to break into travel writing but these days, anyone with the tenacity and the will to succeed can learn how to start a travel blog , however, it does take time and dedication. If you’re looking for tips on how to start a blog , there’s a bewildering array of ideas online and there’s a difference between travel journalist and travel blogging. 

What’s the best thing about the life of a travel journalist? 

What do you look for when you travel, what’s your favourite destination, what do you collect when you travel, how did i break into travel journalism, the life of a travel journalist, 1- you must have a journalism degree, 2- you need to be a good photographer to be a travel journalist, 3- you can’t make a living as a travel journalist, 4- a ‘no’ from an editor means it’s not good enough, 5- you need to read lots of “how to be a travel writer” books, 1- don’t pitch ideas, just write the story and send it in, 2- no attachments, 3- start small and work up, 4- get to know the publication, 5- persevere, how to write a great travel story, travel journalists  , a peek into the life of a travel journalist .

To give you some insights on how travel journalists see the world, here are some perspectives from some successful travel writers.

Although the life of a travel journalist can often be lonely, as the joys of travelling with friends is something that many travel writers have to give up, there are many benefits of being a travel journalist.

All those interviewed below have worked as professional travel journalists for at least 10 years and some have been writing and travelling professionally for more than 20 years.

Kerry Heaney: I like to explore new places and find great food.

Kate Armstrong: For me, the best thing about travel is the delight of new sensations when you step off a bus or an aeroplane.

Maria Visconti: I like places that are unknown where I don’t know the culture or the language and I’m totally out of my comfort zone.

Lee Mylne: It’s about learning about other people, other places…every place is different but we’re all the same.

Kara Murphy: Lately, I like travelling to explore new underwater landscapes . The last year I’ve been doing underwater photography.

Danielle Lancaster: Everything is good for a different reason.

Kate Armstrong: It’s everything from aromas of spices to the sounds of church bells.

Lee Mylne: It’s not about ticking the boxes. It’s about learning things. It’s about meeting people, hearing their stories.

Sue Gough Henly: I think when you’re in a fresh new place you’re so alert and you’re so observant about the everyday things that it makes it special.

Kate Armstrong: For me, it’s about the cuisine, it’s about the connections and the friendships that I make along the way.

Kate Armstrong: My favourite destination at the moment would be Portugal.

Sue Gough Henly: My favourite destination has to be France . I’m a complete Francophile.

Maria Visconti: A favourite area of mine is Asia as my heart is in Asia.

Kara Murphy: Lady Elliot Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef because you can swim with turtles every time you get into the water. 

Lee Mylne: New Zealand because it’s so diverse and beautiful. 

Kerry Heaney: I spent a month in Europe and I have to say that was wonderful, really enjoyed that.

Christine Retschlag: I have to say Queensland. I’ve actually thought a little bit about this and I love it. I’m born and bred here. It’s beautiful. It’s got everything – the world’s oldest rainforest, the world’s largest Reef . It’s got the Outback. It’s got the best beaches. It’s got fantastic people, a fantastic climate, and fantastic food. What’s not to love?

Kerry Heaney: Earrings because they are small. Tea towels because I’m a food writer and memories.

Danielle Lancaster: No, no I’m not a collector. I will occasionally buy something that’s a little bit unusual as a small piece of pottery. No, I’m not a collector. I’m just a collector of photography gear.

Christine Retschlag: I just think that one day I’ll be an old lady and I’ll be sitting there looking through all my stories and thinking about my memories. I’ll be thinking about all the characters that someone a little piece of them comes home with you and changes you.

By Rob McFarland

Travel journalism is one of the most coveted careers on the planet.

Who wouldn’t want to be paid to travel the world visiting luxury escapes , drinking cocktails by the pool of a five-star resort and eating in Michelin-starred restaurants?

Of course, the reality is often very different.

For every five-star resort, there’s a dodgy motel and for every Michelin-starred restaurant , there’s a questionable roadside stall.

But if you love to travel and you love to write, it’s a dream job, so, here are some tips on how to get paid to travel the world.

Let me take you back to 1994…

I finished a degree in Computing and IT and embarked on a career as an IT consultant.

For a while, I enjoyed it.

It was social, it paid well and consultancies can make you feel good about working 80-hour weeks.

But after eight years I realised this wasn’t what I wanted to do – or how I wanted to dress – for the next 30 years.

I had no idea what I wanted to do instead so I took some time off, travelled and read a bunch of career self-help books I swore I’d never go near.

They turned out to be surprisingly helpful and they made me realise two things:

1) I loved travelling 2) I loved writing

While visiting my parents in the UK, I strolled into the lounge room and casually announced that after months of deliberation that I’d finally figured out what I wanted to be: a travel journalist.

Imagine their reaction.

They were – to put it mildly – concerned.

I had no experience.

I’d never studied journalism.

I didn’t even like English at school.

And I was giving up a secure, well-paid career with good prospects.

Undeterred, I returned to Australia and gave myself six months – if I didn’t get something published in that time, at least I’d tried and could always go back to IT.

So I started writing and to my surprise, I started getting published.

Little things at first, in backpacker magazines and airline in flights, then larger features in newspapers.

Soon publications started commissioning me and – to cut a long story short – now I’m a full-time travel journalist.

Why is this important?

Because I want to provide an insight into my background, which as you can see is not in the least bit literary or creative.

So what does my life look like now?

It’s difficult to describe it without sounding smug but the reality is that companies pay for me to travel and publications pay me to write about it.

Highlights over the last few years include scaling Wayna Picchu in Peru, a six-day white-water rafting adventure in Patagonia, on the Futaleufu River, and climbing Mount Kinabalu, south-east Asia’s highest mountain, in Borneo.

One of the biggest benefits of being a travel writer is that I can work from anywhere, so each year I divide my time between Sydney, New York and Europe.

In summary, I feel like I’ve got my dream job…I get paid to travel.

And I genuinely believe that providing you have an aptitude for writing, anyone can do this. 

Because of this:

“The great thing about travel writing, particularly at the newspaper level, is that it’s pretty much a meritocracy. If your stuff is good, you’ll get published and recognised. As an editor, I don’t care where (or whether) you went to college, what your resume looks like or whether you’ve previously had a dozen cover stories in National Geographic. All I care about is the manuscript you’ve sent me. If it’s good, I’ll publish it. If it’s not, I won’t.” -John Flinn, former travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle (Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing.)

How encouraging is that?

John doesn’t care what you studied or whether you’ve even been published before – he’ll judge you on the story you submit. I can’t think of many careers where that’s the case.

You can’t become a doctor or lawyer next week, but you can become a travel writer.

But how do you break in?

Surely you need to have worked on a publication?

And don’t you need to be a good photographer?

Let’s tackle some travel writing myths – five common misconceptions that exist about the travel writing industry.

Travel Journalism Myths

Many of Australia’s most respected and awarded travel writers didn’t study journalism.

They’re just good writers.

In my opinion, you either have an aptitude for writing or you don’t.

Sure, if you want to work on a publication, you’ll need a relevant qualification, but as a travel freelancer, it’s pretty much a level playing field.

An editor will judge you on the story you submit.

I didn’t take photos when I started and it didn’t hold me back.

If you look at the newspaper travel sections you’ll see a lot of the pictures come from image libraries such as Getty and Lonely Planet.

They have thousands of incredible pictures taken by professional photographers all over the world.

It’s unlikely you’ll have been somewhere they haven’t.

I know lots of full-time writers who manage to pay their rent and feed and clothe themselves.

It’s certainly not easy – you need to write a lot – but it’s not impossible.

One warning: the pay is terrible.

I’m a lot poorer now than when I was working in IT, but I’m a hell of a lot happier.

Do not for one second go into this for the money.

You submit a story to a publication and the editor replies “No thanks”.

At this point, it’s all too easy to think:

“It wasn’t good enough. Why am I doing this? I can’t write. I’m going back to being an IT consultant/accountant/ landscape gardener….”

But just think for a second why they might have said no.

It might be because it’s not good enough, but it also might be because they published a similar piece two months ago, or have a similar piece waiting to run.

Editors rarely tell you the reason they’re declining something so it’s all too easy to jump to the “I’m not good enough” conclusion.

I’ve sold dozens of stories that were rejected by one outlet only to be published elsewhere without a single change.

Resist the temptation to put off writing until you’ve read every “How to be a travel writer” book in the local bookshop.

Now, this may seem like an odd thing for someone who runs workshops for aspiring travel writers to say.

The reality is that the people who go on to be successful after taking my course already have an aptitude for writing.

What they get from the course is detailed feedback on their writing (something I would have given my left arm for when I was starting out), ten years’ worth of hard-learnt tips and tricks, and the confidence to actually do it.

“The only training for writing is writing – and reading and reading and writing some more.” Pico Iyer, British novelist.

Travel Writing Tips

Here are five tips to help you get published:

Until you’re established, an editor is never going to commission you to write a story if they haven’t used you before.

Why would they?

You’re an unknown quantity.

So, rather than emailing, “I’m thinking about writing a story on X”, just write it and send it in.

If they like it, they’ll use it. If they don’t, they won’t.

Once you’ve done this a couple of times, and the editor starts to trust you, then you can start pitching ideas.

Don’t send your story as an attachment.

Instead, include it in the body of the email.

To open an attachment, the editor has to double-click on it, wait while it’s virus-scanned and then download it to their computer – all time they could be spent doing something else.

Make it as easy as possible for an editor to read your story.

If the story is right there in the body of the email, literally staring them in the face, it’s almost impossible for them not to read the first line.

Tempting as it might be, don’t send your first story to the New York Times – it is highly unlikely they will publish it.

Choose an outlet that suits your style and runs similar types of stories.

The newspaper travel sections are a good starting point because they need a lot of content each week and will publish a wide variety of styles.

Most of the people who have been published after taking my course had their first story in a newspaper.

Get familiar with the outlet you’re pitching to.

Buy a copy of the magazine or newspaper and figure out the types of stories they publish, the style of writing they prefer (serious/humorous/first-person/third person?) and whether they’ve already run something on that subject.

No matter how well-written your story is, an outlet is never going to publish it if it ran a similar one last week. Or if it’s on a subject it doesn’t cover (the magazine Australian Traveller – which surprise, surprise is about travel within Australia – gets sent international stories all the time).

Providing you can write, there is one quality which will determine whether you make it as a freelance travel journalist: perseverance.

I know so many good writers that aren’t published simply because they haven’t persevered.

And I know a lot of editors who’ve told me they eventually published someone because week after week they kept popping up in their inbox.

You will get rejected.

Probably a lot when you’re starting out. And how you react to it is crucial.

If you let it get to you and give up, you’ll never be published.

If you shrug it off and carry on, you’re still in the game.

If you really want this life; if you want to be paid to travel the world perseverance is what’s going to get you there.

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” Richard Bach, American author

Safe travels and Good luck!

Rob McFarland runs workshops for aspiring travel writers and many of his students have gone on to be published. 

Tom Neal Tacker

Writing about travel for the last 15 years has taught me three important lessons:

• To experience life fully, try walking in someone else’s shoes for at least a day. 
• Travel is the great mind opener, your imagination will expand. 
• Never judge a book by its cover; unknown worlds lie within those pages.

Travel writing has also taught me that clichés are rife.

It’s a useful tool when describing well-known destinations but clichéd nonetheless, hence the three important lessons listed above.

Trying to differentiate from what is the travel story norm:

Step One: bring the reader along for the ride with a first paragraph that captures their attention.

Step Two: cite the location and/or place to satisfy the accommodating host.

Step Tree: describe various experiences, preferably in gung-ho fashion to verify ‘travel writer’ credibility and step four, bring the message home with a ringing endorsement to keep the host and advertiser happy, I can honestly say that most travel writing is crushingly dull and formulaic.

I know as over the years I’ve contributed to the contemporary paradigm.

Why travel writing is contrarily ordinary considering the world’s wonders and extraordinary people means to me the writing shouldn’t be dull.

The voice of experience in mainstream media is whispering in my ear as I write this.

In an attempt to rectify the conundrum I launched my own online magazine so I can write about travel from a nakedly honest perspective.

But I always had a hankering to do more.

How could I offer readers something other than descriptive prose?

How could I deliver the goods I describe in my stories?

How could I take readers along for the journey… for real? 

Tom Neal Tacker is a freelance travel journalist and owner of Naked Hungry Traveller.

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• Careers in Surfing Photography
• Is Being a Photographer in High Demand?

Founded in 1888 as a non-profit organization for explorers and visionaries, The National Geographic Society has expanded its brand to include a magazine, multiple television channels, as well as having offices around the world. If you're a professional photographer or writer, getting published in National Geographic is the holy grail of career goals. You don't need to just be a creative, however. Respectful, curious and proactive individuals across all occupations have options for joining The National Geographic family.

Photography Careers

All photographers at National Geographic are employed on a freelance basis. They usually have at least five years of professional photojournalism experience or a specialization such as nature, underwater or aerial photography. Photographers with a college degrees in journalism, science, anthropology, sociology, fine arts or a related discipline – as well as photography credentials – are preferred. National Geographic believes that a broad-based experience adds a unique dimension to a person's photojournalism.

Simply stated, this is not a first-timer's job. For National Geographic to hire you, they must already know who you are. It's far more likely that an NG editor will reach out to a photographer whose name they see over and over again, than for them to follow up your unsolicited approach to the magazine. One option for newcomers is to enter, and win, National Geographic Magazine's College Photographer of the Year contest. The prize is a photography internship with the magazine.

Writing Careers

As with photographers, members of the National Geographic writing team work as freelancers. It's extremely difficult to win an assignment since the editors choose story ideas and then assign the articles to outstanding writers they have worked with before. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. The only way in is to build a reputation by writing for other high-profile publications. If NG's editors like your work, they may reach out to you with an assignment.

The U.K.-based print and online magazine, National Geographic Traveller, is the one NG publication that does accept story pitches from freelance writers. The magazine prints articles and blog posts on trips, cruises and undiscovered places. Email story ideas to the editorial department at [email protected] including a precis of the story, the first paragraph and links to your work. Further details on the National Geographic Traveller website.

The National Geographic Society Careers

National Geographic Society is NG's not-for-profit arm. It is one of the world's largest nonprofit educational institutions, and has more than 13,000 scientific, conservation and exploration projects to its name. Open positions are posted to the Society's website; the diverse range of careers includes everything from information security engineers to the director in charge of grants. Click on the job description to learn the minimum education and experience requirements. Unless otherwise stated, you'll apply by filling out an online application and submitting a resume and cover letter.

The National Geographic Television Channel Careers

The National Geographic Society has partnered with 21st Century Fox to produce the National Geographic television channel – which is available in more than 171 countries and 45 languages – as well as on sister channels Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Job openings are listed on the 21st Century Fox careers page, and range from creative and production roles to administration, business analysis, marketing, operations and finance. Click the link within the job description to apply online.

Graduate Internships

The National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox run a 10-week long, paid summer internship that offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to acquire job-related skills. Applications are encouraged from passionate rising juniors and above, who are enrolled at an accredited college or university. You can view and apply for upcoming internships on the Society's website. The application window opens in January for internships, running the following summer. Competition is tight. It's a good idea to bookmark the page and submit an application as soon as the next program is announced.

• National Geographic Society: Careers
• Intelligent Travel: How to Become a Nat Geo Photographer
• National Geographic Traveller: FAQ
• National Geographic Society: Internships
• National Geographic: Careers

Jayne Thompson earned an LLB in Law and Business Administration from the University of Birmingham and an LLM in International Law from the University of East London. She practiced in various “big law” firms before launching a career as a business writer. Her articles have appeared on numerous business sites including Typefinder, Women in Business, Startwire and Indeed.com. Find her at www.whiterosecopywriting.com.

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How to Get Published In National Geographic

National Geographic's director of photography gave us the inside scoop.

Sarah Leen, the magazine’s director of photography, gave us the inside scoop.

If you’re a photographer who’s serious about documenting unique people and places, getting published in National Geographic is pretty much the Holy Grail of career goals. To find out what it takes to get featured, we called up the magazine’s director of photography Sarah Leen.

Leen has a long history with the magazine—her first published story was a result of a college internship there in 1979. As a photojournalist, she’s travelled extensively, documenting lifestyles and landscapes in diverse locations ranging from Russia to Uganda to northern Canada.

She receives countless pitches for travel and documentary stories every day. We asked her about what makes an interesting story, if journalism school is important and what makes a good pitch. She also told us which blogs she reads to source new talent.

Here are Leen’s tips for getting featured in National Geographic.

[Erica Canepa’s Kleinfontein for National Geographic]

1. Take a risk on a story idea.

“There are some times when I think, ‘That’s not going to work, or, ‘That’s not a good idea,’ and then I’m proven wrong because the photographer went out and they found a way to tell the story and made it really compelling.

“You have to keep an open mind about these things and not be too limiting. Sometimes photographers can come up with really interesting ways to tell a story and you’re going to be glad later on that you took that risk.”

Loulou d’Aki’s Make a Wish for National Geographic

2. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Don’t be afraid to go back and work on a project you thought was finished.

“Often I find projects that are underway by photographers, and I think, ‘That’s really cool, but I’d like to see more on this or that portion of this story.’ We’ve started relationships with several photographers that way—they started on a project and then we sent them back and had them do more on it, and maybe we took a little different angle on something they’d already started.”

3. A formal education never hurts.

“For me, going to school was the way I got into this business. I went to journalism school at the University of Missouri, so that was my way in. When I learned how to be a journalist, and I learned how to write captions and be a reporter and also do photo-journalism. That was really important for me.

“If you don’t go that route and you end up being a great photographer, at a certain point you’re going to also need to learn to be a great journalist. You’re also going to need to understand what is a photographic narrative, and the value of getting accurate and complete caption information and reporting.

“There are people that have skipped that step. But I’ve worked with photographers for the first time and it’s astonishing how little they know sometimes about how to be a journalist.

“They know how to create great pictures, but they sometimes don’t have those skills, and you have to say, ‘Hey, you don’t just get to walk around, take pictures, and not get any information.’

“I think that getting some kind of an education as a journalist is very important if you want to work as a photo-journalist.”

Rachel Bujalski’s Connected Off-The-Grid for National Geographic

4. Don’t pitch stories if you won’t be able to execute them.

“First of all, I’m not going to entertain any ideas or pitches from people that I don’t think could successfully work for us as a photographer. There’s no point if I think, ‘Well, your photographic work isn’t at a level that’s going to ever make it here.’

“I’ve got to feel confident that they can actually do the job—whatever it is that they’re pitching—and that their photography, their vision, their aesthetics are at a level that is going to be successful in any of our publications.”

Michael George’s Walk This Way (Portrait of a Pilgrim) for National Geographic

5. Do your homework. Get familiar with the publication.

“If you were trying to pitch stories here—whether it’s National Geographic magazine or Traveler—it’s really, really smart to have looked at the magazines. Know the magazine that you are pitching, and if you have an idea maybe Google and find out: When was the last time we did that and what did it look like?

“If you’re pitching an idea and we ran it two months ago and you don’t know that, I’m already a little less interested in you because it makes me a little cranky because we just did that.”

“Why are you pitching the story when we just did that? Do the homework.

“Then you should consider, is this the kind of story that’s right for this publication? Is it in our wheelhouse in terms of the topics that we cover? Is it environmental? Is it climate change? Is it cultural?”

Charles Fox’s Dark Water for National Geographic

6. Be able to answer the question, “Why this, why now?”

“Why should we do this now? Can you answer that question? Why should we do this now and not three years from now? It’s not just a spot on the map, like, ‘Oh, this is this gorgeous place and we should do this gorgeous place.’ That’s just not going to fly with my editor. She’s going to want to know, why should we do this now?”

Mathias Depardon’s Postcards of The Black Sea for National Geographic

7. Build up your credentials. If you’re out there, they’ll find you.

“I go to lots of portfolio reviews. I attend various festivals. I’m definitely actively looking. I like to find people. I follow people on Instagram, I follow people on Facebook. I look at the NYT Lens Blog and I follow Booooooom . There’s a lot of ways to get your work out there nowadays.

“I send a lot of my staff to things like the Alexia Grants or Pictures of the Year International , World Press Photo Contest and other competitions . We’re always looking at the people who win those contests and see what they’re up to.

“I feel like with National Geographic, you don’t start here, you get here. This is not where you’re going to start as a photographer. The people who we work with, they’re fully formed professionals—for the most part. We do try to cultivate young people and sometimes find super-talented young people and try them out on something. That does happen, especially if they have a project that’s already been started and feels right for us.”

Header image of photographer Luciano Candisani via National Geographic

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Breaking into travel journalism: advice from the experts

A passion for travel and the ability to string a sentence together will not qualify you as a travel journalist. Find out what will in the best bits from our recent travel journalism Q&A

• Looking to become a writer? Browse and apply for a range of journalist jobs at Guardian Jobs

Jill Starley-Grainger is a freelance journalist specialising in ethical and luxury travel

Use your blog to showcase to editors what you can do: They would want to see that you can write well-crafted, engaging copy, that you can sniff out good angles and that you are dedicated enough to have stuck with the blog for more than a few posts. Once you start getting commissions chances are your blog will slide. If you are getting paid travel writing gigs, then your time for unpaid work will rapidly diminish. But until you get those paid commissions, a blog is a good, easy starting point. As for getting followers, don't worry about that. Focus on well-crafted, insightful travel journalism, perhaps with a niche angle, such as 'travelling with a baby' or 'all about Germany', and if your writing is up to scratch, people will follow you. Trying to SEO the heck out of your copy will only make it seem stilted.

You need to be able to dig out the angles the travel guides don't cover: So many people think that because they are passionate about travel and can string a sentence together, that qualifies them to be a travel journalist. It doesn't. You need to understand how to dig out facts - and to determine that they are facts - and how to find hidden gems and insider info. If it's already in a guidebook, what are you adding to it? And you need to know how to write. I really can't stress that enough. It's a skill and not everyone has it, but so many people think they do. But you can learn it.

Travel journalism is hard work and the pay isn't always great either: Forget fantasies of being sent round the world on an assignment with a huge commission, all expenses paid, and having endless days lolling on the beach or people-watching in cafes. Very few publications pay freelancers' travel expenses (and getting a full-time writing or editing job on a major travel publication is just not going to happen until you have years of experience, and even then, chances are slim). Take a sample 1,000 word feature. If you are lucky and have years of experience, you might be commissioned to write a 1,000-word travel feature for a major publication. You will need to spend around a day crafting the pitch that wins the commission in the first place, three to five days working out your itinerary and arranging accommodation and so on. Another three to five days on the trip. Then at least two to four days writing the article to a standard high enough for this type of publication. If you are lucky, for this, you will be paid £400.

If you are pitching unusual destinations, make sure you've got a good angle: Breaking in by going to less popular locations - this is a tricky one. On the one hand, going somewhere unusual definitely gives you an edge. On the other hand, it's hard to commission those features. The fact is, most people want to read about destinations they actually want to go to or are interested in. Hence the huge number of articles on France, Italy and so on. This is because it is these types of articles that sell papers and magazines.

On the other hand, people do like reading about unusual destinations, so while editors might not have as much scope to commission those places, if you pitch a good angle for one of them, then when they do come to commission a quirky one, your pitch might just be in the back of their mind. But do not pitch just a general 'guide' to an unusual destination. You still need an angle, whether it's Baku's beach scene or skiing in Iraq.

Emily Mathieson is Word of Mouth editor at Condé Nast Traveller Demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of the magazine will endear you to an editor: The simple best way to get your writing published (and get paid for it) is to actually read the publication you're pitching to. I am constantly surprised by how many people send me ideas that are clearly not relevant to the section I edit, or to Condé Nast Traveller in general (no, we don't review youth hostels). If someone begins a pitch by clearly demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the magazine, I am always more likely to read on.

Pitches which paraphrase press releases won't be welcome. Keep it short, sweet and to the point. But PLEASE don't just paraphrase a press release. It's likely I'll already have seen it, and why would I pay someone to do something I could do myself?

Include a signature at the bottom of your e-mail with your specialisms. I find it really helpful if writers have a signature at the bottom of their e-mail telling me about them, the specialisms and where they live (and it's also often helpful if you can remind me at the beginning of an email who you are too). This will often jog my memory, or help me decide why a particular person is suitable for a certain piece.

Amanda Statham is travel editor of Cosmopolitan and You & Your Wedding magazines

A potted guide to pitching:

- Keep it short - no travel editor has half an hour to wade through 10 pages of pitch. - Know the publication - I'm always being offered pieces for my Cosmopolitan travel news page. There isn't a Cosmo travel news page... - Check to see what the publication has covered recently; if it has covered your story or specific place, don't pitch. - If you refer the travel editor to your personal website, make sure it works and is up-to-date. - Have an original hook; amazingly, backpacking around Thailand has been covered before. Pat Riddell is the editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

Twitter can help your industry knowledge and give you ideas for pitches: Follow journalists, editors, newspapers and magazines but also follow travel blogs, tourist boards, airlines, tour operators, attractions, museums, hotel groups and so on. The more you know about travel and how it 'works', the better. Which destinations will be talked about in 2013, where are the new air routes, what are the new attractions... these are the pitches for the future. And by establishing a Twitter presence you can make a name for yourself as well as boosting traffic to your blog - or indeed titles you've written for.

Glen Mutel is the editor of ABTA Magazine and a regular columnist and contributor for National Geographic Traveller

Different approaches suit different titles: For trade titles such as ABTA Magazine, we've already got a fair idea of the destinations we want to cover over the next six to 12 months. So, unlike other titles, we don't necessarily want budding writers to pitch us specific angles. Instead, I'd much sooner be sent a short email, detailing where a writer has been and where they know, with links to previous examples of their work. This last bit is absolutely crucial. Many travel editors will already have a list of writers that they rely on and it can be hard to get them to try new people. I've learned to turn a deaf ear when writers tell me they've written for the nationals, because it's so seldom a guarantee they can write. I'd much sooner they show me specific examples of their work - proof they can put words in a readable order. If they can do that, there's a good chance I'll try them out with a general destination feature. Then, a few pieces down the line, I'll start accepting ideas from them.

Postgraduate courses can equip you with everything you need: I don't think the type of degree is necessarily that important. Earlier this year we were looking to fill the deputy editor position, and I don't think we looked to hard at the type of degree. What mattered more was whether there was some type of postgraduate qualification - it needn't be an MA. There are several shorter postgraduate schemes that can equip you with everything you need (I did a three-month course with PMA ).

Peter Grunert is the editor of Lonely Planet Magazine

A particular specialism might give you an advantage: I definitely believe it's a good idea to build a rapport with a commissioning editor before sending them a pitch. They will need to know that you share a wavelength and will also want to see evidence of the quality of your writing - ideally, writing that would suit their publication. I also feel that anyone with a specialism has an advantage. Are you based in a particularly interesting location? Can you bring fascinating travel insights from the point of view of someone who has great knowledge of art, motoring, history, sports and so on?

Check out all the advice from the live Q&A here .

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Superstar Blogging

Blogger Mentorship Program

Learn to improve your writing and make a living as a writer

The trick is getting it out.

If you are looking to improve your writing, land assignments that send you to the far reaches of the globe, successfully pitch editors, write a book proposal, or pen that bestseller, you’re in the right place.

Becoming a better writer takes practice but, most importantly, it takes a good teacher.

My name is Matthew Kepnes (a.k.a. Nomadic Matt) and I’ve been running the website Nomadic Matt since 2008. Since then, my website has become one of the top travel blogs in the world, with over 1.3 million visitors and I’ve written two books: Ten Years a Nomad and How to Travel the World on $50 a Day (a New York Times bestseller).

When you are traveling, living in a small town, or have limited funds, finding a writing teacher can be difficult. I know. When I started out, I looked high and low for a program that would help me improve my writing while I traveled.

But everything I found either required me to go to some college campus or didn’t have the one-on-one editing feedback that I knew would truly help me become a better writer.

That’s why I created this travel writing class.

Together, with travel writer David Farley, author of An Irreverent Curiosity , host for National Geographic, and former writing professor at Columbia and New York University, we will teach you how to write stories that people read, editors buy, and publishing houses publish.

David is considered one of the top travel writers in the country . He’s hosted a National Geographic Channel show, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, AFAR , and countless other publications.

Through video lectures, interviews with successful travel writers and editors, detailed examples of edited stories, and sample book proposals and pitch letters, you’ll learn everything you need to improve your writing – from crafting a story to self-editing, improving your grammar, writing a book proposal, coming up with ideas, creating narrative arcs, and pitching editors.

Moreover, we offer something not found in other programs: copyedits and notes on your writing as well as monthly Q&A sessions.

You will get detailed notes and feedback on your work so you can improve your story structure, self-edit, develop characters, and create stories that suck readers in.

What Our Students Are Saying

“Writing is a skill, and David Farley is an exceptional teacher. This travel writing course is everything you would expect out of a university course, except with the added luxury of doing it at your own pace in the comfort of your chosen environment. With tutoring, editing, writing examples, videos, advice, and feedback, being a part of this course is like having your own private writing mentor. It’s helped me improve my own writing, as well as helped me think like a writer and spot errors before I publish them!” – Toni

“David not only explains the ins and outs of what it means to be a travel writer but inspires and teaches his students to become professional storytellers. The feedback and insights David gave me on homework assignments have carried over into everything I’ve written since and have changed the way I read other people’s work, edit my own, and find ideas. The best part of all — the program actually gets you excited to sit down and write!” – Corey

Introducing:

Superstar travel writing.

• The art of storytelling – Learn how to create the perfect story, how stories arc, and what captivates readers.
• Descriptive writing – Learn how to create a sense of place and descriptive stories that draw people in and create vivid, emotional stories.
• The creative process – Learn how to create stories and come up with ideas so you never face the dreaded “Writer’s Block.”
• How to self-edit – Editing is one of the hardest parts about writing. We’ll teach you how to properly revise your work, spot mistakes, and edit your work like a pro.
• How to get editors to call you back – You’re a great writer, so why don’t editors respond to you? We’ll show you the secrets to getting past an editor’s filters and get responses.
• How to submit winning book proposals – Want to create a winning book proposal? We’ll show you what to do, how to get an agent, and even give you David’s and Matt’s actual winning book proposals as examples.
• How to make money as a writer – We’ll teach you where to find work and what to charge so you can make a living as a writer. We include sample pitch letters so you know the format that works!
• How to write for the web – Writing for an online audience is a lot harder and more different than you think. We’ll give you the lowdown on how to succeed so you can be heard above the noise.

Plus, a private Facebook community that will help support your work ( we post job openings there too ) and sample book proposal and pitch templates to follow that are guaranteed to get editor’s to open your email.

GET HANDS ON HELP AND FEEDBACK

Personalized Feedback on Your Work

Writing is a skill that requires practice and feedback. That’s why you’ll be able to submit your writing samples to us for edits. David and I will help you refine your writing, editing, and story planning so you become a better writer from day one. We will give you feedback on structure as well as copy edit your work so that you grow as a writer and land the gigs you want.

Monthly Strategy Calls

Twice a month, David holds office hours where you can ask him anything you want about writing and being a writer. We’ll go through sample articles, help you refine any book proposals, and, overall, just help you better navigate the world of writing and freelancing. Additionally, every so often, we have other writers on as guest hosts so they can share their knowledge and tips with you!

PLUS: Get 10+ Hours of Expert Interviews

With this program, you’ll get audio interviews with 12 award-winning writers and editors as they share their travel writing tips, failures, and successes with you. Additionally, every month, we add a new interview to our archives.

Travel Writer, Editor

Don has been a travel writer and editor for 40 years. In this interview, he talks about how to break into the industry, his early mistakes, and advice for new writers.

Stephanie Griest

Stephanie is a writing professor at UNC. In this interview, she talks about how to write and pitch a successful book.

Girl Gone Travel

Carol talks about creating a niche you can grow with, supporting your family on a freelancer’s salary, and the lack of diversity in travel writing.

Derk Richardson

Derk is the former editor of AFAR magazine. In this interview, he discusses what writers can do to improve the quality of their writing and pitches.

Travis Levius

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How to Become a National Geographic Photographer

Last Updated: April 25, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Heather Gallagher . Heather Gallagher is a Photojournalist & Photographer based in Austin, Texas. She runs her own photography studio named "Heather Gallagher Photography" which was voted Austin's Best Family Photographer and top 3 Birth Photographers in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Heather specializes in family Photojournalism and has over 15 years of experience documenting individuals, families, and businesses all over the world. Her clients include Delta Airlines, Oracle, Texas Monthly, and her work has been featured in The Washington Post and The Austin American Statesman. She is a member of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP). There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 40,628 times.

One of the most prestigious magazines for photographers is National Geographic. Many freelance photojournalists consider it a career highlight to have their work published in National Geographic. It is not easy to accomplish this, however, and takes years of hard work, skill development, and practice in this highly competitive field. Every artist whose work has appeared in National Geographic is a freelancer who has been in the industry for years. If you are willing to put the time in, getting published by National Geographic is an achievable goal.

Gaining the Necessary Photography Skills

• Many Nat Geo photographers use their educational backgrounds to help them with shooting. For example, numerous freelancers have solid science backgrounds, which makes them excellent photographers of natural history.

• Joel Sartore, a photographer for National Geographic, began his career as a photographer and later director of photography for a newspaper in Wichita, Kansas.

• It is a tall order to bring something to the table Nat Geo hasn’t already seen. The more specific your skill is, the better chance you have of catching the attention of the editors at the company.
• Versatility is also key. People who speak multiple languages are valuable to the publication, as are people who can dive under sea ice. If you can master vastly different skills, you’ve made yourself that much more attractive to the editors at National Geographic.

• Photography is not a cheap hobby but owning different types of cameras can help you become an even better photographer. National Geographic doesn’t require a specific type of camera for their shoots, so the more cameras you are comfortable handing, the better.
• Nat Geo encourages photographers to shoot using experimental styles and techniques. However, the company does not want photos that are heavily-edited or manipulated. Make it a goal to become as good at capturing your vision with the initial photo as possible.

Maximizing Your Chances for a National Geographic Assignment

• This process can take time. After all, Nat Geo is looking for veteran photographers, so keep at it! As a former director of photography at National Geographic used to say: “If we want to hire you, we already know who you are!”
• When Nat Geo editors reach out, they are usually looking to see if you have good story ideas. Take some time every day to think about stories you would like to tell. The more important the story is to you, the easier it will be for you to tell it to the world.

• Email your work to as many different addresses as you can. This gives you a better chance of being noticed.

• The headquarters are located at 1145 17th St. NW in D.C.
• Use this time to see what makes the photos in the exhibition pop and learn as much of the history of the publication as you can.

• National Geographic photographers often host seminars around the country. Look up a photographer you admire to see when and where that person will be speaking next. Stay after the talk to introduce yourself, as nothing beats an in-person introduction!
• Networking isn’t just about finding the people who can hire you for your dream job. It’s about building relationships and getting feedback on your work. Don’t be afraid to ask accomplished photographers for their thoughts on your best stuff. This is a great way to maintain a relationship with someone in the field.

• Joel Sartore sent his work to National Geographic’s Washington D.C. headquarters every three months. This eventually led to a one-day assignment with the magazine, which was soon followed by more work.
• There is a delicate balance to sending your work to Nat Geo. Being persistent is a good thing, but being a pain is not. If you are constantly contacting the people at National Geographic, you could come across as annoying and make it that much more difficult for you to latch on with the company.

Taking Advantage of Photography Opportunities

• The 73rd edition of this contest featured nearly 10,000 images from students all over the world. Go over your work carefully to see which photo is your best!

• It is free to set up a “Your Shot” account.
• If your work continually gets noticed, you have the chance to go on assignment with National Geographic. You would get paid about 500 dollars per day for going on assignment.

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply for an early career grant.
• Grant projects last one calendar year or less. Early career grants are typically funded for 5,000 dollars and cannot exceed 10,000 dollars. Exploration grants feature between 10,000 and 30,000 dollars in funding.
• You can apply for a Nat Geo grant even if you have already applied for one in the past. All you have to do is close your previous grant record.
• The grant program is highly competitive and Nat Geo receives far more applications than it can fund.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://www.joelsartore.com/about-joel/common-questions/how-do-i-become-a-national-geographic-photographer/
• ↑ https://www.adorama.com/alc/how-to-become-a-national-geographic-photographer/
• ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/intelligent-travel/2013/06/14/how-to-become-a-nat-geo-photographer/
• ↑ http://help.nationalgeographic.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1412160-i-d-like-to-visit-the-national-geographic-headquarters-in-washington-d-c-do-you-offer-tours-
• ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pages/topic/yourshot
• ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/grants/grant-opportunities/

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Bahari: food writer Dina Macki on Omani cuisine and Zanzibari flavours

In her new cookbook, Dina Macki examines the intertwined but distinct cuisines of Oman and Zanzibar, exploring how they were shaped by seafarers and the ocean itself.

How has your heritage influenced your food?

My mum was born in Zanzibar to Omani Zanzibari and Iranian Zanzibari parents. They came from Swahili tribes, so they cooked a lot of Zanzibari and Swahili coastal food; there’s always a lot of coconut and the food is really spicy, with lots of citrus flavours. My dad’s family are Omani — from the capital, Muscat — with Bahraini and Iraqi tribal heritage, so they use a lot of dried limes. They also use a lot of dates. That comes from being in the north, where there are date palms everywhere.

How would you describe Oman?

Although Oman is a Middle Eastern country that borders other Arab nations, it’s also close to Somalia, Iran and India. And 200 years ago, it had an empire that included the Swahili coast around Zanzibar. Because of all the trade, it’s very multicultural. In the north of Oman, where Muscat is, it’s very dry and hot, with a gorgeous coastline and beaches.

The interior to the west is very mountainous, and it’s here you have the Ad Dakhiliyah governorate, where the most delicious pomegranates are grown. As you travel further south, you pass the desert before you reach the Dhofar governorate, which mimics the Swahili coastline with its blue sea, white beaches and coconut palms. In August, the monsoon turns everything green and you get incredible waterfalls.

How does the food vary regionally?

Oman is very tribal and every community takes their influence from somewhere. The Lawati tribe in the north originally came from Iran and Pakistan, and their food incorporates a lot of Indian flavours; they have a high tolerance to chilli and use a lot of spices. The same goes for the Balochi people, who originated in Balochistan [a region split between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan]. The interior tribes would have been Bedouins, who travelled throughout the Arab world. Their food is very meat heavy and they love honey as it travels well; they also like to preserve things. In the south, near the sea, the people are mainly of East African heritage and their food is very coconut-based. In the mountains, they have a lot of meat, which they’ll dry to travel with. They also love using wheat and fresh cow’s or camel’s milk.

What makes Omani food distinctive?

Definitely the variety. We don’t have a lot of vegetables because of the climate, but we use a lot of spices and draw on so many different flavour combinations. We also have a lot of finger foods, like samosas and fritters, which is that Zanzibari influence. In terms of eating culture, it’s extremely rude if you visit someone and you don’t eat with them. No matter what time of the day you visit, Omanis will make sure it drags into lunch or dinner. The men and the women will go into separate majlis (sitting rooms). The minute you walk in, you’ll be given tea or coffee and fruits. The main dishes, served family-style on big plates, are then laid out on the floor, where everyone sits and eats with only their right hand. After that, the sweet things are served. You’ll have halwa (made with sugarcane, ghee, spices, nuts and dried fruit), with coffee to finish.

What are some typical Omani ingredients?

Limes grow across the country. People dry them or brine them for a stronger flavour and take them everywhere because they preserve really well. Cooked slowly (and a lot of Omani dishes require slow cooking), they release an intense citrussy flavour. Honey is also found everywhere. Dates are [common too], but this stops once you get to the Dhofar region, where the climate becomes very wet and humid. In terms of spices, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and cloves are all important, and the Lawati, Balochi and Swahili tribes also eat a lot of chilli. Saffron is an Iranian influence, but it’s grown in Zanzibar, too.

Is there one especially popular dish?

The majority of people in the north will tell you the national dish is shuwa, eaten during Eid — although in the interior and the south there are many governorates that don’t have shuwa at all. It’s basically meat coated in a mixture of black pepper, dried chilies, cloves, dried limes, cardamom and cinnamon; each family’s recipe will be different. It’s then wrapped in banana leaves and put in a sack made from date palm fronds. Everyone in the village gets together and dances and sings as they put their sack in a tanoor (fire pit), where it’s cooked for 24 hours.

Recipe: Spinach & coconut shakshuka

This shakshuka is based on a Zanzibari dish known as mchicha or mboga, which means ‘spinach’ or ‘vegetables’ in Swahili. If you mention these names, we instantly know the dish will be made with coconut. Coconut forms the base of many Zanzibari dishes and is often used as a substitute for water. Although mchicha tastes amazing, it isn’t the most showstopping dish to look at, so I decided to use it as a base for shakshuka. This dish is best served with toast.

Serves : 4 Takes :   50 minutes

Ingredients 6 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground cumin 3 tomatoes, finely diced 600g spinach 400ml can coconut milk 1 green chilli, roughly chopped (optional) 1 lime, juiced Handful of fresh coriander, chopped 4 eggs Pomegranate seeds, to garnish (optional) Black olives, to garnish (optional)

Method 1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sweat for 3–4 mins, then stir in the ground spices. Add the tomatoes and fry for 5–6 mins more. Add the spinach, a handful at a time, and fry for 5 mins until it’s all wilted.  

2. Pour in the coconut milk, then add the chilli (if using) and its seeds, plus lime juice. Salt to taste and simmer for 20 mins until the coconut’s thickened and there’s only a little liquid left. Add the coriander and stir well, then leave to simmer for another 3–4 mins.

3. Add the coriander and stir well, then leave to simmer for another 3–4 mins.

4. Make 4 holes in the mixture and crack an egg into each hole. Cover the pan with a lid and leave the eggs to cook through for 5 mins until the egg whites are cooked and you have a runny yolk (alternatively, leave it for longer to get a hard yolk, if you prefer).  

5. Sprinkle over the pomegranates and/or olives, if using, and serve.

Recipe: Honeycomb bread

Qaranqasho is an Omani celebration that takes place on the 14th day of Ramadan. Children dress in traditional clothing and mothers prepare nibbles and sweet baskets, then open up their doors to all. Khaliat nahal is a sweet, yeasted bread known for its honeycomb shape that’s only served during Ramadan, especially on Qaranqasho. This recipe is found in both Oman and Yemen — it’s always filled with cheese, but the syrups drizzled on top differ from family to family. It’s best served freshly baked and warm, while the cheese is melted, but it’ll keep for 1–2 days in an airtight container.

Makes: 20 pieces Takes:   1 hour plus rising

Ingredients 400ml plus 2 tbsp warm milk 14g fast-action dried yeast 650g plain   flour 130g caster sugar 2 eggs sesame seeds, for sprinkling sea salt flakes

For the syrup 200g caster sugar 2 tbsp runny honey ½ orange, juiced 4 cardamom pods, crushed

For the filling 200g mozzarella 200g soft cream cheese

Method 1. Combine all the ingredients for the syrup in a saucepan with 170ml water. Set over a high heat and bring to the boil. Once it starts bubbling, boil for exactly 10 mins, then remove from the heat and leave to cool completely. Don’t stir the syrup while it’s boiling, and make sure it’s entirely cool before you use it; the idea is to pour the cooled syrup over the hot bread. 2. Pour 400ml milk into a bowl. Add the yeast and leave to sit for 5 mins. 3. Combine the flour, sugar and eggs in a mixer or large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and combine. Knead until the dough is soft and smooth — this will take 10–12 mins in a mixer or 15–17 mins by hand. Cover with a clean, damp cloth and leave to rise for 1 hr 30 mins or until the dough has doubled in size. 4. Once the dough has risen, divide into 20 even-sized pieces, then shape them into balls. Take the first ball and press it flat, then place a little of the mozzarella and soft cheese into the middle (use around 5–10g of each, as you don’t want to overfill). Bring the rest of the dough around the cheese to encase it, then pinch the edges together to seal, roll it back into a ball and flatten very slightly. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, mozzarella and soft cheese. 5. Place the filled balls on a baking tray lined with baking parchment (ideally a pizza tray, so you can arrange them in a honeycomb shape). Make sure to leave a little space between each of the balls so they have room to spread as they rise. Cover with a clean damp cloth and leave to rise for 30–45 mins. 6. Heat oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas 6. When the balls are ready to bake, brush them with the remaining milk and sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Bake for 20–25 mins until golden. 7. Pour the cooled syrup over the balls as soon as they come out of the oven and let it seep into the dough (alternatively, brush the syrup on if you don’t want too much). Sprinkle over some crushed sea salt flakes to finish. Allow to cool for around 10 mins, then serve warm so the cheese is melted and delicious.

Recipe: Plantain or banana, coconut & cardamom cake

There’s a pudding from Zanzibar called ndizi mbivu, which is basically overripe sweet plantains stewed with coconut milk and cardamom. As a kid, the look of it put me off — I must have been about 20 when I began to understand how something so simple could yield so much comfort and flavour. I have a recipe for it in my book, but this ‘prettier’ version brings the same ingredients into a cake. I like to serve it warm, but you can leave it to cool — just be sure to remove from the tin while still warm. It’ll keep for 4–5 days in an airtight container.

Serves: 6-8 Takes:   45 minutes

Ingredients 160g plantain or banana, puréed, plus 1 sliced 200g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 80g caster sugar 80g soft light brown sugar 100g desiccated coconut 3 eggs 185ml vegetable oil 10 cardamom pods, crushed, or 1 tbsp ground cardamom

For the caramel 100g soft light brown sugar 3 tbsp unsalted butter

Method 1. Heat oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas 6. Grease a 20cm cake tin and line with baking parchment.

2. To make the caramel, put the sugar in a saucepan over a low–medium heat and allow it to gradually melt, gently swirling the pan to help ensure all the sugar melts evenly. Once the sugar has all melted, add the butter and keep stirring until smooth.  

3. Arrange the sliced banana or plantain in the base of the prepared tin, then pour over the caramel. Set aside.  

4. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth, being careful not to over-whisk. Pour the batter over the banana and caramel. Bake for 20 mins, then reduce the heat to 190C, 170C fan, gas 5 and bake for a further 25 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.  

5. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove from the tin while still warm.

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