Description

Like every other facet of journalism in the 21st century, travel writing is undergoing profound changes. More sophisticated and demanding audiences, increasingly specialized coverage and the rise of social media have made the profession more challenging for everyone from casual bloggers to veteran travel journalists. This course is designed to give students the tools they need to succeed in that environment. The primary focus is on writing, starting with fundamentals and building to sophisticated journalistic and literary techniques. With an eye toward understanding the market and getting published, the course also offers an overview and detailed look at evolving genres, styles and outlets. Students will get practical advice on generating ideas, crafting successful pitches and producing fresh, engaging stories, along with individual instruction on improving their writing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
– Demonstrate a practical understanding and proficient use of the fundamentals of travel journalism;
– Demonstrate a familiarity with advanced writing structures and techniques;
– Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to work in a variety of travel genres;
– Research and identify story ideas tailored to specific publications and audiences;
– Write persuasive story pitches and compile a set of set of clips to accompany pitches;
– Show significant improvement in their writing skills.

*Course content subject to change