{"id":131442,"date":"2020-07-27T09:43:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T08:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/?p=131442"},"modified":"2020-07-27T09:46:04","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T08:46:04","slug":"how-to-pitch-to-travel-journalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/how-to-pitch-to-travel-journalists\/","title":{"rendered":"How to pitch to travel journalists"},"content":{"rendered":"

One industry heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly been travel, and by extension, the media that reports on it. While the next Travel Media Awards have been pushed back to January 2021<\/a>, travel journalists have continued to write about the changing fortunes of the holiday industry during lockdown, and are now busy putting together alternatives to the usual summer features on luxury long-haul trips. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Read on for suggestions and requests from seven travel journalists working across trade, consumer and national press titles on how you can help them keep upcoming features and round-ups packed with useful ideas and inspiration.<\/p>\n

1. Start with a story \u2013 classic, or with a spin<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018Even in these surreal times the basic principles still apply. There\u2019s got to be a story. And it\u2019s got to be relevant to our audience.<\/p>\n

\u2018So, the fact that somewhere, whether a destination or a hotel, is reopening is not a story in itself. But a spin on that regarding, for instance, the impact lockdown had on people or nature may be of interest. And the classic hooks of \u2018new\u2019 routes, new immersive experiences, a secret corner, or a fresh way of doing things will always be what we are really looking for.<\/p>\n

\u2018While domestic tourism will be the big winner this year, magazines plan well ahead, so I am already looking at stories well into 2021 and beyond. Don\u2019t just think in the short-term.\u2019<\/p>\n

Lyn Hughes, editor-in-chief of Wanderlust<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

2. Get in touch to give journos a choice of what to cover<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018Most things are useful. We’d rather hear than not. That way we can pick through and decide what we want to follow up on \u2013 or not.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jane Memmler, deputy travel editor at Reach plc outlets including the Daily Express, Daily Star and Daily Mirror<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Think about how you can be relevant right now<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018The world \u2013 and travellers\u2019 views of it \u2013 has changed since lockdown and content must be sensitive to the shifts. Travellers have lost confidence, which means they are looking for a different kind of travel information (content about safety and hygiene is as important as inspiration right now). Travellers have developed more of a conscience (seeing the world heal before our eyes and having our carbon footprints reduced on our behalf has made us all think about the impact our travel plans have on the planet) and they want to see content that helps them make more sustainable decisions. Travellers are thinking more about why they travel and what role travel plays in their wellbeing, so the content produced needs to reflect that change in mindset, recognising that travel is a gift and a privilege.<\/p>\n

\u2018Think about your angle: Is now the time to pitch the big hitters (at risk of overcrowding and overtourism prior to COVID) or a new angle? How can your ideas encourage dispersal and off-season travel? How can you help travellers see the world through beginners\u2019 eyes? With smaller teams and smaller issue sizes (in print), your content needs to champion the alternative. There is no room for generic right now.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jackie Scully, executive director of Think Travel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

4. Target appropriately with B2B or B2C travel content<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018TOPHOTELNEWS covers global hotel design, development, construction, openings and industry news so I’d welcome press releases and comment on these topics, and I work for a B2B publication so wouldn’t be interested in the ‘softer’ B2C side of hospitality. I work remotely, so emails are the best way to get in touch. Plus, I receive so many pitches that I can’t respond to everyone I’m afraid, but there’s no need to follow up \u2013 if I like it, rest assured we’ll run something eventually.<\/p>\n

Having said all that, I’d like to finish by pointing out that we actively encourage contributions from PRs \u2013 TOPHOTELNEWS wouldn’t be nearly as popular without them! If you’ve got a story that might work, please drop me a line.\u2019<\/p>\n

Richard Frost, editor in chief of TOPHOTELNEWS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

5. Unusual angles are timeless<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018Please get an idea of what I write about and who for \u2013 and never ever phone me! Other than that, I\u2019m interested in pretty much any topic that might illustrate a genuine trend or provide an unusual angle on a topic \u2013 so long as it\u2019s not in need of very quick coverage.\u2019<\/p>\n

Norman Miller, freelance journalist covering travel alongside food and drink, education and science<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

6. Remember the images<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine is available in glossy print and online versions via our websites. We are also very active on our social media channels with our social media manager Steve Newman posting daily.<\/p>\n

\u2018We continue to welcome press releases for the travel industry, both holidays and cruises. Press releases should fit with our publication and we would appreciate three images, with links to them, or the PR can invite contact to send the hi-res versions.\u2019<\/p>\n

David Powell, editor of Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

7. Email is better than phone for contact, wherever the writer is based<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u2018It\u2019s always great when PRs approach me \u2013 usually via email is the easiest. Then we can work out the best way to work together. It\u2019s always good to meet face to face if possible, but as I often work with UK PRs and live in Australia, that isn\u2019t always an option, (especially right now!)\u2019<\/p>\n

Hayley Lewis, blogger at A Lovely Planet <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Find travel journalists writing all over the globe with the Vuelio Media Database<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Read on for suggestions and requests from travel journalists on how you can help them keep upcoming features and packed with useful ideas and inspiration. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":131432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7365,7398,350,7238],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131442"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/423"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131442"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131450,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131442\/revisions\/131450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}