ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Travel Journalism Jobs (NOW HIRING)

American

Data Journalism Editor, IRW

Campus, IL

$70K - $80K/yr

We want a journalist who cares about finding stories among those communities that are often ... Travel Required: * Occasional travel mayberequired. Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Da MaddHouze

Journalist

Salem, OR · On-site

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Travel to on-site locations for immediate news coverage. * Coordinate with camera crew and other ... At least a Year degree in Journalism or relevant fields. Additional Information Job Benefits to ...

Da MaddHouze

Journalist

Salem, OR · On-site

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Travel to on-site locations for immediate news coverage. * Coordinate with camera crew and other ... At least a Year degree in Journalism or relevant fields. Additional Information Job Benefits to ...

WOWK-TV

Senior Multi-Media Journalist

Youngstown, OH · On-site

If you're passionate about local news, committed to strong journalism, and ready to help shape the ... Travel will be required on a regular basis. Work may be performed in extreme outdoor temperatures.

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsTravel Journalism Jobs

Travel Journalism information

See salary details

$35K

$71.8K

$113K

How much do travel journalism jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for travel journalism in the United States is $71,789.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,500.00 and $85,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a travel journalist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Travel Journalist, you need strong writing, research, and storytelling skills, often supported by a degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with digital cameras, audio recording devices, content management systems, and social media platforms is crucial for multimedia reporting. Exceptional curiosity, adaptability, and interpersonal communication help you connect with diverse cultures and audiences. These skills enable you to create engaging, accurate narratives that resonate with readers and meet the demands of a competitive, fast-paced media environment.

How do travel journalists typically balance fieldwork and writing responsibilities during assignments?

Travel journalists often juggle a dynamic mix of on-the-ground research, interviews, photography, and writing. While in the field, they gather notes, capture visuals, and connect with local sources, which requires strong organizational skills to ensure no detail is missed. Back at their accommodation or upon returning from a trip, they dedicate focused time to crafting compelling stories, editing photographs, and meeting editorial deadlines. Successful travel journalists continually refine their time management strategies to balance exploration with content creation and stay adaptable to unexpected changes in their itinerary.

Is a travel journalist a good job?

A travel journalist researches, writes, and reports on travel destinations, often working for magazines, websites, or media outlets. The job requires strong writing skills, travel experience, and the ability to meet deadlines, with income varying based on experience and publication type. It can be rewarding for those passionate about travel and storytelling but may involve irregular schedules and income fluctuations.

How do you become a travel journalist?

To become a travel journalist, you typically need strong writing skills, a passion for travel, and experience in journalism or storytelling. Building a portfolio of published work, gaining industry contacts, and developing expertise in travel topics or destinations are important steps. Many travel journalists also use social media and multimedia tools to showcase their work and attract opportunities.

What is the difference between Travel Journalism vs Travel Content Creator?

AspectTravel JournalismTravel Content Creator
CredentialsJournalism degree or related experienceNo formal credentials typically required
Work EnvironmentMedia outlets, magazines, newspapersSocial media platforms, personal blogs, YouTube
Industry UsageTraditional media, editorial workDigital media, influencer marketing
Content FocusIn-depth articles, investigative storiesShort-form, engaging videos or posts

Travel Journalism involves producing in-depth, researched articles for traditional media outlets, often requiring journalism credentials. Travel Content Creators focus on producing engaging content for digital platforms, typically without formal credentials. Both roles explore travel topics but differ in format, platform, and audience engagement.

What is travel journalism?

Travel journalism is a field of reporting that focuses on exploring different destinations and sharing those experiences through articles, photographs, videos, or other media formats. Travel journalists often visit locations to write about the culture, attractions, cuisine, and people, providing readers with insights and inspiration for their own trips. Their work can be found in magazines, newspapers, blogs, and television programs. Effective travel journalism combines storytelling, factual reporting, and practical information to engage audiences and help them make informed travel decisions.

What are different types of travel journalism jobs?

Travel journalism jobs involve working to create content about traveling and the travel industry. The most common position is a travel journalist for a magazine or website. Your duties in this position may include reporting on an assigned destination, pitching story ideas, and interviewing professionals who work in the travel industry. If you work as a photojournalist, your responsibilities are to create videos or photos to accompany each article or to be stand-alone reports. In a travel editor role, you may select each story for publication or give assignments for a specific subject or location to journalists. As a travel trade journalist, you write about the business aspects of tourism.

How much money do travel journalists make?

Travel journalists' earnings vary widely based on experience, publication, and geographic location, with salaries typically ranging from $30,000 to over $100,000 annually. Freelance travel writers often supplement income through commissions, sponsorships, and content sales, while those employed by major media outlets tend to have more stable salaries. Developing strong writing skills, industry contacts, and a portfolio can influence earning potential in this field.
More about Travel Journalism jobs

What cities are hiring for Travel Journalism jobs?

Cities with the most Travel Journalism job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Travel Journalism jobs?

The most popular types of Travel Journalism jobs are:

What states have the most Travel Journalism jobs?

States with the most job openings for Travel Journalism jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Travel Journalism jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Travel Journalism jobs are:

Travel Journalism jobs near you
Infographic showing various Travel Journalism job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,789 per year, or $34.5 per hour.

Data Journalism Editor, IRW

American

Campus, IL

$70K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department:

School of Communication

Time Type:

Full time


Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Work Modality:

Full On Campus Presence

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

The Investigative Reporting Workshopseeks an outstanding data journalistto leadourdataand artificialintelligencejournalism efforts,mentor others, andtranslate complex data into impactful investigative stories, while contributing creatively and strategically to the newsroom.

The DataJournalismEditor handles daily and long-term dataassignmentsforvarious journalism projects withinIRW, a nonprofit newsroom based at the School of Communication). The Data Editor works withother editorsand internsand graduate fellowson data collection, data cleaning, data management, data analysis, and data visualizations.

The DataJournalismEditor reports to the Executive Editor. This position works under general supervision and will interact with other staff, students, faculty, and consultantsat IRW. The DataJournalismEditorensuresthatourdata-driven investigations are based on sound data management and analysis principles, and that data findings areaccurateand based on acceptedbest practices in journalism.

Our ideal applicants haveat least three tofiveyears of experience in data journalism, including statistical analysis and reporting stories from data, and some experience in programming.Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models and their applications is preferred.We want a journalist who cares about finding stories among those communities that are often underrepresented in the media, and onewho is passionate aboutaccuratestorytelling across platforms.

Exceptional candidates with importantskills that do not precisely match theabove description are welcome to apply and tell us aboutthemselves.

Essential Functions:

1.) Data Analysis and Reporting

  • Develop and execute plans foracquiring, analyzing, cleaning, andpresenting data used by the Investigative Reporting Workshop for potential stories.

  • Pitch anddevelopstory ideas for future projects.

2.) Editing

  • Check and re-check thousands of documents, reviewing the work of student journalists and graduate fellows who obtain data and documents through public-records requests, court records,and online sources.

  • Draft orassign draftsof allmethodologyused in stories and projects for potential publication.

3.) Training and Presentations

  • Developsideas for on-site workshops and events,andparticipatesinpanels at national conferences, including, but not limited to, IRE and NICAR, theInvestigative Reporters and Editors and its spinoff, the National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting, respectively.

  • This position alsofrequentlyspeaks to American University's graduate boot-camp students and to the Dow Jones training workshops for business reporters held at American University.

4.) Other Duties as Assigned

  • Maintain frequent contact with smaller nonprofit newsrooms working with IRW on data-heavy projects.

  • Other assignments as needed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

  • This position supervises one to three part-time studentreportersandgraduatefellows.

Competencies:

  • Acquiring and Analyzing Information.

  • Prioritizing andOrganizing.

  • Collaborative Leadership.

  • Supporting Coworkers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

  • Full-time.

  • 35 hours per week.

  • In-person position and eligible for Hybrid 1 schedule.

  • Position is located at the Investigative Reporting Workshop atAmerican University School of Communication (SOC)in Washington, D.C.

  • Continuation of the program/position is contingent upon external funding.

Salary Range:

  • $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 annually.

Required Educationand Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

  • 3 - 5 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Educationand Experience:

  • Master's degree or equivalent.

Travel Required:

  • Occasional travel mayberequired.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

  • Candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume with their application.

  • Employees in the School of Communication are required to work on campus in a full presence modality for the first month of their employment.

  • Proficiencyin the following are preferred and would be an asset to this work:1.) Statistics and statistical analysis tools, includingRESTful Service Query Language (RSQL), Excel, Python, 2.) ExpertiseinFreedom of Information Act (FOIA),Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), and other public-records resources, 3.) Server management,4.) Database management, especially Postgres5.) Web development, especially news applications and data visualization tools.

Other Duties:

  • Pleasenote thatthis job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensivelistingof activities, duties or responsibilities that arerequired ofthe employee for this job. Duties,responsibilitiesand activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package.Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

  • Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

  • Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.

  • Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

  • American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log intoWorkdayand select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, emailtheworkline@american.edu.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual's genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

Apply