Travel Journalists?

Question

What do travel Journalist actual do? And do they get to travel around the world alot and make decent money?

Answer 1

There seem to be three breeds of travel writers, and most are fairly good photographers because often the travel shots will bring in more money than the written article.

Those who are professionals who also write for guidebooks and freelance side pieces for many different magazines.  Usually their main articles are assignments and not done on speculation, so the expenses are negotiated beforehand.

The next level are those travel writers who are nearly homeless and spend much of the year on the road taking advantage of assignments from magazines which have been approached by hotel chains and airlines or travel agencies seeking publicity.  The reporters are not paid a great amount but they have few expenses.   Airlines can offer a certain number of promotional flights and hotels are always willing to let travel writers have rooms in exchange for anticipated publicity.

The third level contains those staff writers for publications who want to take advantage of their travels to sell or contribute an article to their publication in exchange for cash and tax-deductible expenses.   Many newspaper travel writers are in this category....if you look at the bylines, or the trailing notices you will see so-and-do is a reporter for xyz newspaper.

The easiest way to get started is to approach a travel magazine with your portfolio of published articles and initially see what you can produce for the editor on speculation.

Hope this answer helps you.