Hello travel writers,

Stacey leaves us in the morning for a press trip to Thailand, and she can’t wait to report back. If you’ve never had the opportunity to take a press trip, good news: It’s that time of year again, when Visit Greater Palm Springs opens applications for its mentorship program (we were mentors along with BATW guest expert Rachel Chang when it launched two years ago)! This is a great chance to see what press trips are like and to report on your own story with the guidance of a seasoned travel writer. Word has it editors from Fodors and Afar will be joining this year.

Speaking of press trips, would you be interested in seeing press trip opportunities if we added them to our job board? (And to all the PR pros who subscribe to this newsletter, would you be interested in listing them with us?) We’d love to hear your feedback at [email protected]. And don’t forget, you can learn all about navigating the world of press trips in our class on the subject.

Calls for Pitches

The Guardian: Is looking for freelancers to contribute 600-word pieces to a Guardian New Year supplement. Spots open for Fitness, Beauty, Food and Drink (vegan), Finance (savings) and Education/careers (AI). See more.

Business Insider: Is looking for frequent cruisers/former cruise employees/etc who have a great cruise tip they learned from experience or a mistake. See more.

Beautyish: Is seeking freelancers who understand the Beautylish brand voice. You should have a genuine interest in all things beauty and have the writing chops to translate your passion into attention-grabbing and informative editorial pieces. See more.

Ori: Ori Magazine, the print magazine for travelers, is open for pitches for its Spring edition: The Growth Issue. See more.

Hotels Above Par: Is looking for a journalist who is well-versed in Indonesia (and not just Bali!). See more/ DM Brandon.

Buzzfeed: Did you go through a harrowing divorce? A friend break-up that broke your heart? Or maybe you have a parenting story you want to share? Buzzfeed is now open and taking pitches of all kinds for personal essays. Around 500-1,000 words are preferred but not required. See more.

Huffpost: Is taking pitches for personal essays related to the holidays for HuffPost Personal. Especially looking for folks from diverse backgrounds / with diverse experiences. See more.

Full-Time Job Openings

The Daily Dot: Is seeking a Culture Editor. This role requires a finger on the pulse of trending stories and an expert understanding of entertainment, pop culture, and internet culture. See more.

Only in Your State: Is searching for a creative and strategic Editorial Director to lead the site programming and guide its coverage. You will partner with Only in Your State's Sr. Brand Director to set the direction of its coverage of American travel. See more.

AARP: Is seeking a. Healthy Living Staff Writer/Editor/Producer who develops and implements written or scripted content for publications, books, and/or digital platforms. See more.

WIRED: Is seeking a reporter to cover tech companies and their influence, with a particular focus on the major platforms. In this role, you’ll be responsible for delivering high-impact stories for the WIRED business desk, ranging from breaking news to longer-lead investigations. See more.

Secret Escapes: Is looking for an Editorial Assistant with a passion for luxury travel to write inspiring hotel copy, sub-edit like a pro, and be a general support to the busy UK editorial team! See more.

Associated Press: Is looking for a talented multiformat journalist to cover climate and environment, to be based in Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle or Boston. See more.

Travel Weekly: Is looking for dynamic, enterprising, experienced reporter to join our news team as the Senior Editor for Tours and River Cruises. See more.

One Place We Love

While we usually use this space to recommend places we’ve been or are going, this week I (Nina) decided to use it as a cry for help: Where should I go on my honeymoon? There are too many places we want to go, and I’m interested in hearing your input. Email me at [email protected] if you’re feeling generous — there is no prize for the winning answer, just my gratitude. 🙂 The photo above is one I took at the Grace Hotel in Santorini, just for honeymoon vibes, but yes it is also a place I love!

One Story We Love

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) recently announced the winners of its Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, and the winners list is full of writers to follow and stories to read. One we enjoyed was by Leath Tonino: “Working in Antarctica Was Mindless Boredom. Until I Found a Pair of Skis.” (The illustration above is by Jean-Michel Perchet for Outside.)

See you in class,

Stacey & Nina