A two-day crash course in travel writing and journalism with some of the Guardian and Observer's experts
Overview
Think travel writing is all long-form features and books? Think again. In this intensive weekend held in the Guardian offices you'll cover the many different aspects of writing about travel today. All aspects of today's travel journalism are covered, from exploring new formats such as blogging, multimedia and photography to practical help with pitching and inside tips on what travel editors are really looking for. This course is aimed at enthusiastic travellers – no matter the destination! – and is intended to give a unique insight into those who work as travel writers.
Course description
This is a two-day crash course in travel writing and journalism with some of the Guardian and Observer's experts. In revealing and practical sessions with some of the Guardian's best travel journalists, you'll cover travel writing and journalism as it is today: the craft of long-form writing, multimedia (including photography), how to blog, how to pitch, what print and online editors are looking for (and what they're definitely not), and more. With plenty of opportunities for questions, this is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the travel writing industry.
Speakers include: Mike Carter (Guardian travel writer), Tom Hall (Lonely Planet Travel Editor), Kevin Rushby (the Guardian's Explorer columnist and multi-media correspondent), Joanne O'Connor (freelance travel writer and former editor of Observer Escape), Benji Lanyado (web producer for the Guardian) and Vicky Baker (freelance journalist for several publications including the Guardian, Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Conde Nast Traveller).
Tutor profiles
Mike Carter has been travel writing for 10 years. He writes regularly for the Guardian and the Observer newspapers, and had also written for the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, Harper's Bazaar and Daily Express. He is the author of two travel books – Uneasy Rider, which won the 2008 Oldie Travel Book of the Year, and One Man and his Bike, published in 2011, which documented his 5,000 mile cycle ride around the entire coastline of Britain – but considers his spell as a professional podium dancer in Turkey to be his greatest achievement.
Joanne O'Connor has been a travel writer and editor for 20 years. She was travel editor of The Observer from 2005 to 2010 and has spent the last two years working as a freelance journalist. She writes for most of the broadsheet travel sections and magazines such as Marie Claire, Tatler and BA Highlife, and has a travel column in The Observer magazine.
Benji Lanyado is a freelance journalist, web producer, and developer. As well as writing and creating multimedia features for the Guardian covering travel, digital culture and politics, he also runs news aggregators RedditEdit.com and Top5News.co.uk, Twitter mapping service Kerouapp.com, and pens various bits and bobs at benjilanyado.com
Tom Hall is travel editor at Lonely Planet. He is the writer of the weekly Ask Tom page on the Guardian (UK) travel section and the travel expert on Radio One's Jo Whiley Show and Sunday Surgery phone-in. Read more on his blog.
Kevin Rushby is a travel photographer, author and journalist. After finishing university in Newcastle in 1982 he bought a one-way ticket to Cairo – the start of a journey that would take him through Egypt, Sudan, Central African Republic, Uganda, Zaire and Kenya. Find out more on his website.
To book
Details
Dates: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 2013
Times: 10am-5pm
Location: The Guardian, 90 York Way, King's Cross, London, N1 9GU
Price: £399 (includes VAT, booking fee, lunch and refreshments)
Maximum class size: 18
Student reviews for this Masterclass
"It gave a good idea of the mechanics and content of travel journalism and increased my awareness of the area, which is what I was seeking. Learnt lots, good fun also. I feel much better informed about travel journalism."
Alexander M, June 2012
"Thank you for an excellent weekend. Very inspiring."
Charlotte H, June 2012
"I think the quality of delivery in the time was exceptionally good and well organised – far better than many university courses. An excellent team who had thoroughly prepared what they believed we would find of interest and were exceptionally well focussed." Philip W, June 2012
"Outstanding in every respect. Should publicise to more non-Guardian readers!" Freddie B, June 2012
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