Looking to break into the travel industry? If so, Center of Communications is one way to keep you informed with industry happenings. I have been on their emailing list for several years, and I can attest to the quality of their panels and events; industry experts are brought in as guest speakers, from various types of media (both traditional and new media), including travel media.
This past Tuesday, BUDGET TRAVEL: WRITING ON THE ROAD took place, in collaboration with The New School’s Dept. of Media Studies and Film. The panel consisted of three travel gurus that shared their career insight and their tips on how to break into the travel industry and maintain a successful travel career:
VALARIE D’ELIA, Travel Consultant, TRAVEL WITH VAL, NY1
JAMES SHERMAN, Founder & Chairman, SHERMANS TRAVEL MEDIA
PAULINE FROMMER, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist (through King Features) and nationally syndicated radio talk show host, FROMMER’S GUIDEBOOKS
Moderator: DAVID KAUFMAN, Freelance travel journalist (WSJ, TIME , TRAVEL + LEISURE)
As I diligently took notes, I put together a list of 15 tips for travel writers, bloggers and journalists:
1. It almost goes without saying, but consistency, perseverance and work ethic are still the norm for successful individuals, regardless of the industry; more so, in the travel industry. To stand out from the competition, you need stamina and focus.
2. Master those writing skills and develop an entrepreneurial spirit; freelancing and pitching new stories to editors is not as easy as it may seem.
3. Always look to improve your skills; in today’s economy, it certainly helps if you are a one-man team, meaning if you are a travel writer, you should also be a good photographer, to ease in the editor’s workload. The same goes for a travel correspondent; if you can produce, videotape and edit said video, you are the uncontested winner.
4. Develop an unique perspective. Writing well is not enough; you need to come up with story angles that haven’t been covered before, and make your mark.
5. Keep your eyes wide open when you first reach a destination. According to Pauline Frommer, the first 24 hrs are most important in developing a story; write down your thoughts, take pictures and take note of the smells and sounds of a particular place. How is this destination different? Start mentally preparing your hook.
6. Be organized, go by the schedule and be disciplined when taking notes. Mrs. Frommer mentioned how difficult and grueling guidebook writing can be; somewhere from 7 am to 2 am, you have to carry not only a notebook, but a recording and a video device, for easier use later on.
7. As a content provider, you need to turn in your work quickly. Respect your deadlines. Leonard Bernstein was the one that said: “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.”
8. Make sure you understand what your audience needs; you may think that seeing the rock formations in the exotic Boracay, Phillipines make for a great travel experience, but your readers might only be looking for an accesible Florida vacation, close to home. Valarie D’Elia mentioned how popular her domestic travels turned out to be for her NY1 viewers, as opposed to more exotic destinations.
9. Immerse yourself in the local culture of your current destination. It may sound like a cliché, but go off the beaten path; choose residential areas instead of hotels located in more commercial areas. Take a tour with a local guide or resident. The moderator David Kaufman kindly shared some of his habits when traveling: “go to the local supermarket, have a haircut and go to the local gym.”
10. Research, research, research! Taylor each pitch to each individual publication; research through their previous published work and offer something new; come up with a new angle. It may sound like the obvious thing to do, but so many of us fail to do so.
11. It cannot be repeated enough! Embrace social media, NOW. Share your work with the world: create a Facebook page; tweet to your audience; live-tweet during an event; join travel groups; pin your favorite travel destinations on Pinterest; upload your articles on Stumble Upon; create YouTube videos. Social media can change the direction of your career and can increase your network and credibility.
12. Publish in non-travel publications; the competition for it will be exponentially lower. Thank you Pauline for this tremendous tip!
13. In connection to the above, pitch to English language publications in non-speaking English countries. Thank you David for this great one as well!
14. Create something to answer your own need.
15. Don’t give up; most successful people out there faced a few failures along the way.
