Apart from news and views on media covering tourism, travel, and hospitality, writers, editors, photogs, and bloggers share tips, leads, ideas, news, gripes. PR reps/journos ISO press releases/trips, see also "PR/Marketing." Opinions stated are not necessarily those of Tripatini.

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A tribute to my friend, the late travel media icon Arthur Frommer

  The legendary U.S. travel journalist and entrepreneur Arthur Frommer passed away November 18 at the age of 95. Born in Virginia and with an early boyhood in a small town in Missouri, Arthur was a lawyer who became a pioneering and great travel journalist, and who will be remembered as having helped open the joys of travel to the masses. While serving in the U.S. Army in Europe in the 1950s, he got the travel bug, came out with a travel guide for servicemen, and followed up in 1957 with…

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1 Reply · Reply by José Balido Nov 24

Free access to Encyclopaedia Britannica for journalists

My editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica has asked me to extend this offer to all my journalist colleagues. You are invited to enjoy free access to all its factchecked resources, and if you do link to a Britannica story in your articles, none of the content linked to will be paywalled. Your readers in turn will have full and free access to Britannica's content. To get your free, personal subscription, just go to britannica.com/journalists and enter the code: EXPERT-CONTENT.

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1 Reply · Reply by Michael Raviv Jul 18

What do you wear to Seven Magic Mountains?

Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation located in the Nevada desert, and the weather can be quite hot and dry. Therefore, it is recommended to wear comfortable and breathable clothing, such as shorts, t-shirts, and sandals or sneakers. You may also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. It's also a good idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. While there is no strict dress code, it's important to dress appropriately for the weather and…

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1 Reply · Reply by Surendra Singh Aug 7, 2023

What is global entry?

Global Entry is a program that allows pre-approved travelers to expedite the process of entering the United States.To apply for Global Entry, you must be a citizen or national of the United States, Mexico, or Canada and have a valid passport. You can also be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.Once you have applied for Global Entry and been approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete your interview appointment at any U.S. Customs and Border…

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  • If you're a member of the Atlantic Caribbean or Northeast chapter of SATW -- or if you aren't a member but want to see what we're up to -- join the new group for the June chapter meeting. We'll be posting updates about Pittsburgh and professional development classes, videos and photos of the city, and more.
  • Is there really a one-size-fits-all template that works for clients and rates?  Do you charge a multinational corporation on the same basis and pay scale as a small recently opened hotel or other travel industry entity?  Do you take into consideration that your own portfolio is not as extensive as someone who's been onstaff full-time at a huge Manhattan PR firm for years and years, and this PR project represents a nice break for you - so maybe you should in turn be flexible and provide that small client a break too, in terms of pricing?  So I think there may be variables there too.  I'll leave aside the 800 lb. gorilla in the room of such a discussion, being the great recession, which has created this whole wider dimension of potential clients who are not in the market for paying retainers and full-industry rates but still need some publicity functions fulfilled.  For me, at least, that's where the challenge has been recently in finessing a realistic arrangement 

  • Actually, I have seen a leveling off of falling rates, and a couple places I write for recently increased their pay. It's still not great compared to days of yore when I could limit assignments to only those that paid $1/word or more, but it's an improvement. But you're right, Allan, I should have written that "I can't afford to not take those jobs until I can secure more regular assignments for publications that still pay professional rates." Now, that opinion will probably generate some comments on what qualifies as professional rates or not...

     

    As for the terms travel writer versus travel journalist, I think it depends on what part of the industry one is covering and how.  I started my career working for a trade, but the editor considered it a real newspaper and ran it as such. We had beats and were required to break news about the industry, and that certainly didn't mean being the first to write about a new hotel opening or remodeling.  We did occasionally get to go on press trips and write travel destination features (which I too call travel writing, not journalism), but it wasn't often and he doled them out only as rewards for doing well covering the news end of our industry.

  • Donna, do you see rates improving? Ever? Most of the titles I know pay now what they paid in 1990. Cover prices and ad rates have increased, but not editorial rates.

     

    Sam & Donna,

    I don't believe Max said he was approached by someone he wrote about. I think there is a problem if you're hired to work for a client and later expected to write about that client for publication. Now, if you write about a client and they like how you treated them - as in how you interpreted their product or place - I can see working for them on the understanding that the relationship changes and there would be no more 'free' editorial coverage, as in writing about them for media.

     

    I'm an old dog, so I get uncomfortable calling myself a travel journalist. I'm a travel writer. In my old school training and background, journalism is reserved for those covering the news. The launch of a new cruise ship or opening of a new resort isn't quite the same for me. That said, I don't sell out my editorial content in an article. And I'm amused by these policies that don't allow free travel; if someone thinks I'm selling out my reputation for a free hotel room or plane ticket they're sadly mistaken.

     

    When I started writing for one trade magazine one woman I interviewed said, "what is this, this is like a real interview? I thought you wanted me to talk about thread counts and the menu."

     

    Like everyone here I have certain specialities. I'd be a fool not to cash in one the specialized knowledge I have. But in agreeing to write for certain clients or speak to certain groups or consult, I consider our future dealings. If they hire me to help, then their editorial coverage (as in magazine articles or other coverage) is handed off to someone else.

     

    We have to recognize that some clients will come to us because they've watched how we cover their industry or destination or competition. Then we decide whether to accept that business and how to deal in the future. But we all know that. I don't think it has to be spelled out each time we ask a question.

  • Agreed, Sam. I had that dilemma last year when approached by a travel company to do freelance marketing and PR work for them. It would have been lucrative, and I seriously considered it, but decided I could accept the offer only if I were willing to give up travel journalism and cross the line completely to the other side. I wasn't ready to do that at the time. Don't get me wrong, I still pen releases and marketing copy for organizations, because the pay sure beats regular travel writing these days, just none of my clients are in the industries I cover. Though even that criteria gives me pause, and I wonder whether it's ethical, but I can't afford to not take those jobs at the moment until rates for travel writing improve.
  • Smart answers, but wrong question. Max should have asked, Is it ethical to be writing press releases about the industry you cover as a journalist?
  • I want to add my thanks to Alan and Dick. These rate suggestions are helpful to those of us who rarely do press-release type writing. 
  • Thanks, Alan and Dick...very helpful input. Best regards...
  • The "Advertising, Copywriting & Public Relations" section of the chapter "How Much Should I Charge" in the 2009 edition of Writer's Market lists high/low/average rates for writing press release at $100/$40/$58 per hour, or $750/$200/$440 per page, or $2/$0.40/$1.02 per word. Presumably travel expenses could be charged in addition, as Allan suggests, if the work could not be done solely in your office.
  • PS - As writers we're too used to lowballing quotes. Editors and publishers have sharper pencils than "real-world clients". So if you think the hourly rate is getting too high, consider a daily rate. When I'm working on a project I bill based on a six-hour day. I may work longer, but it's an easier number. And I also do a weekly rate. If it's something I really want to do, it won't interfere with other deadlines, I might be able to spin it into something more, then I fiddle the weekly rate. Sometimes it's worth a free half day, sometimes it's worth a free day. So I work five days for the price of four. It shows flexibility.
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