Course Contents

Discover The Ultimate Travel Journalism Course

The Ultimate Travel Journalism Course is delivered and completed entirely online, by email or using the online student portal.

There are 12 course tutorials, ten of which have assignments that you are required to complete and return to the College for your tutor’s feedback. The course tutorials are emailed over a 12 or 24 week time frame, depending on your wishes. However, there are no due dates for assignments and you may take as long as one year to complete the course. You proceed through the course at your own pace and at the times that best suit you. Simply email your assignments when you are ready.

Each tutorial covers a different aspect of travel writing, negotiating the freelance journalism market and how to sell your work in the different industry opportunities available to competent freelance writers.

It’s our promise to work with students to successfully complete their course. So should you experience difficulties during the course, simply contact us and we will happily assist you.

Explore the course contents below

• Tutorial 1: The Ultimate Travel Journalism Course

  The thrill of seeing your name in print; tutorial one lays the foundation to chase that feeling. You will learn about the highlights of being a travel journalist, as well as bridging the gap from being unpublished to getting paid to travel. You will be introduced to the steps of how to break into travel writing, along with tips on setting-up a functional and productive work space and ethic. In this tutorial you will explore the British travel journalism market, as well as learning how to choose the right angle for your work. Tutorial one concludes with assignment one: critique a travel story.

• Tutorial 2: What Makes a Travel Journalist?

  Tutorial two explores what it takes to be a travel journalist. You will learn to tap into your interests, as well as learning how to quickly understand a place. You will begin to think and travel like travel writer, as well as developing your practice in terms of multimedia and dialogue with locals. With a contribution from travel journalist Kerry van der Jagt, you will learn her top five tips for breaking into the industry. This tutorial ends with assignment two: creating a travel article for an audience.

• Tutorial 3: Standing Out from the Crowd

  Tutorial three is all about finding your niche. You will discover the opportunities within action and adventure travel, as well as family, food, wildlife, wine and indigenous tourism. You will also look at the opportunities in travel and trade industry magazines and websites, along with business, transport and hotel writing. This is framed by an exploration into the chains of command, publishing structures and production cycles, and how to tap into this world in the most productive ways. This tutorial ends with assignment three: developing story ideas.

• Tutorial 4: How to Write Winning Stories (Part One)

  Tutorial four is back to basics of writing a winning story, where in part one of this two part series, you will learn travel writing techniques, the process of writing, and the art of editing. You will learn how to use photography within your stories, and how to use story boards to develop a winning story. This tutorial also explores international and domestic regional airline magazines, as well as other magazine demographics, content and editorial guidelines to give you a taste of what is required in your future career. This tutorial concludes with assignment four: writing a travel article.

• Tutorial 5: How to Write Winning Stories (Part Two)

  In the second part of this two part series, you will review the types and traits of an article. You will learn the differences and advantages of the feature article, the profile, the ‘how-to’ piece, the ‘as-told-to’ story, the review, column, blog, and other online formats. You will learn how to master short articles, as well as the postcard story and fact box. You will have an in-depth look at the hotel review and the airline flight test, and how to master these sought-after articles. Tutorial five ends with assignment five: developing a list story.

• Tutorial 6:  Writing For Travel Books and the Secrets of Online Travel Journalism

  Tutorial six focuses on writing for travel books, and the secrets of online travel journalism. This tutorial features contributions from industry greats, such as Brian Thacker, Julietta Jameson, and Julie Miller, who all have made it as (or have helped make) successful travel authors. You will learn how the process of writing a book, from getting the book out, promotion, to working with a publisher. You will also learn professional tips for travel authors, as well as recommended reading to inspire your sense of adventure. There is no assignment for this tutorial.

• Tutorial 7: From Guidebooks to Apps – Other Travel Writing

  Building on from tutorial three, you will learn of more exciting travel writing opportunities, such as writing for guidebooks and travel apps. Veteran writer Tim Richards will take you through the steps of guidebook writing, Susan Gough Henley explores travel app writing and Kris Madden presents travel trade writing. This is then followed by writing advertorial and press releases for tourism organisations and you will also be presented with a handy resource for a successful interview. Tutorial seven concludes with assignment six: developing material for guidebooks and apps.

• Tutorial 8: Travel Photography, Video, Documentaries and Travel Shows

  A picture is worth a thousand words, and this will be the focus of tutorial eight. You are provided with a comprehensive introduction to travel photography, video, documentaries and travel shows, and how each of these offers new and exciting challenges in the world of travel journalism. You will learn how to compose good photographs, as well as the art of travel photography as offered by John Borthwick. You will learn about the opportunities in radio travel journalism, podcasts and travel documentaries. You will explore the small screen, in making and working on television travel documentaries and creating your own travel videos. Assignment seven rounds off tutorial eight: mastering photography.

• Tutorial 9: Working with PR

  This tutorial helps you understand the role of Public Relations (PR) within the journalism industry. You will learn how to get the best out of the PR industry, as well as other potential avenues to build your career as a freelance travel writer. You will explore the do’s and don’ts of PR, along with the etiquette of organised media visits and damage control. This tutorial concludes with assignment eight: write an approach email to PR.

• Tutorial 10: The business of being a travel journalist. 

  Tutorial ten explores the business end of being a travel journalist, where you will learn what sort of income you can expect as a travel writer. You will also learn practical tips on what to take on your adventures, as well as how to travel both lightly and safely. You will explore the ins and outs of making travel writing a business, and be provided with a valuable list of professional organisations to help you begin your career.

• Tutorial 11: Marketing your work

  Creating a profitable business involves marketing your work; the focus of tutorial eleven. You will begin to learn the basics of marketing. You will learn about targeting the right media outlets, as well as thinking of yourself as a brand. This tutorial will help you explore the wealth of social media avenues to promote your brand, along with developing your professional contacts for your business. You will learn how to pitch to editors and be given a valuable step-by-step guide to pitching, as well as examples of pitch letters to set you on your way. Assignment nine rounds off this tutorial: building your portfolio.

• Tutorial 12: What it takes to stay ahead of the game

  Tutorial twelve begins with a recap of the course. Continuing on from tutorial eleven, this tutorial offers more practical information on the art of communication and keeping editors and content managers happy. You will be given advice on which assignments to take and which ones to let go, along with staying fresh and making the most of opportunities within the industry. And finally, contributor Brian Johnston offers some timely words on staying ahead of the game. Tutorial twelve concludes with your final assignment for the course: a total travel feature.

*Course contents may vary from time to time at the discretion of the British College of journalism.