[...] Travel writes Why Would a Magazine Have YOU Write Their Articles? It’s a good read. FT also says the magazine writers did a terrific job! Of course they did. [...]

]]> http://www.familytravellogue.com/why-would-a-magazine-have-you-write-their-articles.html/comment-page-1#comment-174421 Sheila Scarborough Wed, 28 May 2008 17:57:50 +0000 http://www.familytravellogue.com/why-would-a-magazine-have-you-write-their-articles.html#comment-174421 Hi Sean, Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, and nice words about the Family Travel blog. I should have been clearer that while the "amateur" BT contributors may not have been brought in under your normal freelancer pay structure, they did not have to foot the travel bill themselves. For readers unfamiliar with such matters, a quick explanation -- magazines usually give a freelance writer an assignment based on the writer's "pitch," or proposed story idea. The writer goes off and does the story, usually entirely at their own expense because "comps" or any kind of complimentary freebies are not allowed, in order to (hopefully) ensure objectivity. Once the article is written, edited and accepted for publication, the writer then gets her/his payment, with which they must lop off about 1/3 for taxes and Social Security, and then pay back their travel bills. Whatever's left over is their actual paycheck for the job. Now you can see why it's tough to make a living as a travel writer. Also, I went back and did some research, and it was "Mademoiselle" magazine that used to use college writers/editors for their August issue each year, so I've updated my post accordingly.

Hi Sean,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, and nice words about the Family Travel blog.

I should have been clearer that while the “amateur” BT contributors may not have been brought in under your normal freelancer pay structure, they did not have to foot the travel bill themselves.

For readers unfamiliar with such matters, a quick explanation — magazines usually give a freelance writer an assignment based on the writer’s “pitch,” or proposed story idea. The writer goes off and does the story, usually entirely at their own expense because “comps” or any kind of complimentary freebies are not allowed, in order to (hopefully) ensure objectivity. Once the article is written, edited and accepted for publication, the writer then gets her/his payment, with which they must lop off about 1/3 for taxes and Social Security, and then pay back their travel bills. Whatever’s left over is their actual paycheck for the job.

Now you can see why it’s tough to make a living as a travel writer.

Also, I went back and did some research, and it was “Mademoiselle” magazine that used to use college writers/editors for their August issue each year, so I’ve updated my post accordingly.

]]> http://www.familytravellogue.com/why-would-a-magazine-have-you-write-their-articles.html/comment-page-1#comment-174420 Sean O'Neill Wed, 28 May 2008 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.familytravellogue.com/why-would-a-magazine-have-you-write-their-articles.html#comment-174420 Wow, Sheila, Thanks for the hearty endorsement for Budget Travel magazine. Your compliment carries extra weight coming from you, given the thoroughness, practicality, and charm of your blog, as evident to anyone who subscribe to it or peer through its archives. We did pay our normal fees for the photographs we published (from the cover image on through, except for submissions for prizes like a 14-night cruise for two) and for the feature stories we published. Is anyone really thinking that the mother who took her family of four to Hong Kong had to pay for everything herself and that she then gave her three-page story to us for free? That's silly. Ditto for the "amateurs" who went to Africa, Ireland, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. We even paid for travel expenses for traveling companions, something we don't do for our pro writers. As for Durant's comment, I hadn't heard about Glamour's experiment (it's not a publication I subscribe to) but I think our editor, Erik Torkells, is worth quoting on why we did this: As time passes, an editor’s role will be to lead a conversation, not deliver a monologue. There's still a role for editors because there's still a market for people wanting a quick read that boils down the most essential--or liveliest--info. Editors bring the skill of packaging info stylishly and creating a community of like-minded folks. Not all of us can travel as much as we like, but by pooling our knowledge together, we can all travel better. As advertising, Budget Travel is doing fine, thank you. Ideally, one hopes that the ads in a magazine are something its readers *like*, by informing subscribers about services precisely tailored to their interests. You may scoff at this notion, but just yesterday we received an inquiry about a dress that appeared in advertisement for Palm Springs, Fla. The reader liked it and wanted to buy it. We get that type of response to our advertisements not infrequently. (For you fact-checkers out there, this comment popped up in this Tuesday's online trip coach chat; we've archived the transcript with this inquiry at our website.) [It shouldn't need saying, but since I mentioned the word advertising I'll know that Budget Travel has a strict editorial/advertising wall, like other respected national magazines, plus an clearly stated ethics policy about not accepting gifts and discounts for the services, etc..] Sorry for the long comment! You hit on a topic close to my heart. Thanks again for the good word. --Sean

Wow, Sheila, Thanks for the hearty endorsement for Budget Travel magazine. Your compliment carries extra weight coming from you, given the thoroughness, practicality, and charm of your blog, as evident to anyone who subscribe to it or peer through its archives.

We did pay our normal fees for the photographs we published (from the cover image on through, except for submissions for prizes like a 14-night cruise for two) and for the feature stories we published. Is anyone really thinking that the mother who took her family of four to Hong Kong had to pay for everything herself and that she then gave her three-page story to us for free? That’s silly. Ditto for the “amateurs” who went to Africa, Ireland, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. We even paid for travel expenses for traveling companions, something we don’t do for our pro writers.

As for Durant’s comment, I hadn’t heard about Glamour’s experiment (it’s not a publication I subscribe to) but I think our editor, Erik Torkells, is worth quoting on why we did this: As time passes, an editor’s role will be to lead a conversation, not deliver a monologue. There’s still a role for editors because there’s still a market for people wanting a quick read that boils down the most essential–or liveliest–info. Editors bring the skill of packaging info stylishly and creating a community of like-minded folks. Not all of us can travel as much as we like, but by pooling our knowledge together, we can all travel better.

As advertising, Budget Travel is doing fine, thank you. Ideally, one hopes that the ads in a magazine are something its readers *like*, by informing subscribers about services precisely tailored to their interests. You may scoff at this notion, but just yesterday we received an inquiry about a dress that appeared in advertisement for Palm Springs, Fla. The reader liked it and wanted to buy it. We get that type of response to our advertisements not infrequently. (For you fact-checkers out there, this comment popped up in this Tuesday’s online trip coach chat; we’ve archived the transcript with this inquiry at our website.) [It shouldn't need saying, but since I mentioned the word advertising I'll know that Budget Travel has a strict editorial/advertising wall, like other respected national magazines, plus an clearly stated ethics policy about not accepting gifts and discounts for the services, etc..]

Sorry for the long comment! You hit on a topic close to my heart. Thanks again for the good word.
–Sean

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