Responsible Travel Writing for Travel Media 

Designed for both new and seasoned travel writers, Responsible Travel Writing is a self-paced course that provides writers with the tools and techniques they need to minimize tourism’s harm and maximize its benefits in the course of their work while passing a similar message on to their readers.

Price: $379 / $323 / $266

Ethical Storytelling for Travelers
in partnership with RISE Travel Institute

Learn strategies for avoiding stereotypes, choosing the right words, sharing balanced narratives, and navigating power dynamics. Walk away feeling confident that when you share your next travel experience with others, you’re doing so in the most ethical way possible.

Price: $98 / $89 / $79 / $69

The Travel Writing Ecosystem

Travel writing has a romantic flair about it. This has helped shape how travel publications operate, how travel content creators pursue their work, how readers approach content, and, ultimately, the decisions travelers make when they venture out. This module provides insight on how and why the current travel writing ecosystem operates the way it does while providing the foundation for approaching it in a new way.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Writing and Publishing Process - Content Choices

Beyond the actual words travel writers choose, they must be mindful about how their articles are formatted and presented as a package for prospective readers. Making content choices that intentionally and responsibly present their stories bolsters readers’ ability to appropriately prepare for the places they’ll visit and the people they’ll meet. Conversely, failing to consider content choices like headlines and imagery can undermine the integrity of an entire article.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Writing and Publishing Process - Ethics and Editor Relationships

The travel content creation space is ripe with ethical quandaries. Responsible writers need to learn how to navigate these sticky situations so they don’t mislead readers or misrepresent the places and people about which they write. Among their greatest allies in this area are their editors, who serve as gatekeepers to the final published articles.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Approaching Travel Writing Work - Complexities of Place

At the heart of travel are the places people visit. Yet, a lot of travel storytelling flattens places into two-dimensional backdrops, and it avoids those features that make them dynamic, complex, and interesting. Content creators tend to be well traveled but they can’t become complacent. They must learn to approach destinations with a discerning eye, sense of curiosity, and appreciation for place-based details every time they touch down somewhere new.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Writing and Publishing Process - Travel Trends and Language

Though travel writers might be familiar with topical tourism issues and common buzzwords, not all readers will be. Writers must consider how they approach these topics and meet readers where they are while avoiding potential confusion or harm. This module uses several examples to illustrate better practices for approaching trends and tactics used in travel-related writing.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

The Tourism-Travel Writing Connection

Responsible travel content creation plays a big role in the tourism industry’s efforts to promote a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable tourism model. For this to happen, content creators must be able to recognize how tourism, and, by extension, travel writing, have caused harm in the past so they can correct these problems in the future. 

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Social Media and Its Influence

Social media plays an increasingly important role in the way people perceive the world and the decisions they make. Though indirectly tied to travel writing, social media’s role in content creation and dissemination is vital to understand — especially because it is a (mostly) self-controlled environment. If travel writers are active on social media, they should keep several things in mind on their journey to becoming more responsible and intentional in their work.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Travel and Tourism 101

Travel writers play an essential role in the tourism industry. They should have a solid understanding of how and why the tourism industry operates because this reflects upon the experiences travel writers have and share with others. This brief overview offers insights on the relationship between tourism and colonialism, tourism’s positive and negative impacts on destinations and people, and how travel trends affect traveler decisions.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Writing and Publishing Process - Fresh Approaches to Travel Writing

As travel writers begin their journey toward more responsible journalistic practices, they’ll need to navigate commonly assigned but problematic article formats. This is an opportunity to find new ways to approach travel content creation while remaining aware of potential areas of concern. Doing so boosts writers’ confidence for taking on challenging topics, expands their professional toolkit, and opens the door to new kinds of assignments.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Approaching Travel Writing - Understanding Yourself

Every travel writer carries their own history and story into their work, whether they mean to or not. When they reflect upon how their own personal perspective, biases, and purpose influence their travel writing work, content creators can use this knowledge to be honest and inclusive when they begin writing.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Writing and Publishing Process - Language and Word Choices

Ultimately, travel writers must choose words in order to share their stories with readers. The impact of these language and terminology choices is significant, but, unfortunately, there isn’t an easy checklist of words to use and avoid. Content creators must learn to think critically about what they want readers to understand, believe, and feel, and evaluate the consequences of choosing certain words over others.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Mindfulness as a Global Citizen

All travel writers are also citizens of Planet Earth. As visible and influential members of society, their responsibility doesn’t end when an article is published. In our increasingly interconnected world, travel writers must consider how their behavior and content align with each other — and whether their commitment to responsible content creation is performative or genuine.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Approaching Travel Writing Work - On The Ground

There’s more to successful, responsible travel writing than just showing up for an assignment. Preparation is as important as the actual writing itself. This means travel writers must think in advance about how to visit a destination, who to seek out, what questions to ask, and how to manage privilege.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35

Approaching Travel Writing Work - Writing About People

Places are unique in large part because of the people who live there and who have shaped a place’s culture and story over time. It is important to consider their perspectives and points of view in developing travel content, and writers must avoid extracting and exploiting these stories for personal satisfaction and professional gain. Learning how to navigate the delicate balance of appropriately incorporating people into storytelling while averting harm is at the heart of responsible travel writing.

Price: $49 / $42 / $35