There are a number of different ways to document your travels: travel blogs, travel journals, vlogs and even Twitter.
Long before Tumblr and Blogger, people actually hand wrote their travels in journals. One of the earliest examples is from Christopher Columbus notes on Marco Polo. Here is a picture:
via Wikipedia
Travel reporting also has origins from the Song dynasty in China while Greek travel (fiction) literature dates all the way back the second century.
An important figure in travel reporting is Richard Hakluyt. He published “Voyages” in 1589 which was about the discovery of North America.
Travel reporting was quite common throughout the centuries with many keeping travel journals but with the acceleration of technology almost anyone can be a travel reporter. Even I had to create and keep up with a travel blog during my travels during a study abroad program this past summer. The ability to update and post photos from your trip allows your average person to be a journalist.
Gary Arndt is a man who sold his house and everything he else owned to travel the world. He kept a travel blog which is now an extremely popular travel blog at http://everything-everywhere.com/. Utilizing all the tools of the web, Arndt posts photos, writes blog posts, uses links to elaborate on his travels and constantly creates lists while sending out a newsletter that keeps readers updated.
Gary Arndt at a Songkran celebration in Thailand. Image via www.everything-everywhere.com
Gary Arndt is a man who sold his house and everything he else owned to travel the world. He kept a travel blog which is now an extremely popular travel blog at http://everything-everywhere.com/. Utilizing all the tools of the web, Arndt posts photos, writes blog posts, uses links to elaborate on his travels and constantly creates lists while sending out a newsletter that keeps readers updated.
Gary is now a popular travel writer with no professional background and is a member of two different travel journalism organizations. He originally majored in mathematics and political science. This is just to show you that anyone can be a travel reporter/journalist.
After reading up on travel journalism history and the state is in now I have determined that the only thing necessary to become a travel reporter is to travel. So pack up your bags, grab your laptop and get going. Bon voyage!
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