FREELANCERS

The Freelance Council provides a forum for discussion among freelance travel journalists, works to enhance the role of the freelancer in the field of travel communications, and raises skill levels through professional development seminars.

    • Everything you submit with your freelance application must be for paid work—work published without payment will not be considered.
    • Everything you submit with your freelance application must be from the previous 12 months from the date of application.
    • Content must show, describe, evaluate, discuss and/or facilitate travel. The viewpoint must not be dictated by any advertiser or travel vendors referenced in the article.
    • The work need not be bylined or captioned if the editor or publisher of the publication will attest to its authorship.
    • Each applicant earns credit for co-bylined works.

If you have any questions about qualifying prior to applying, please email us at [email protected].

Freelance Application Requirements:

Freelance applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

    • 12 pieces of content in publications with readership of at least 10,000 (subscriptions, circulation, sales, or unique users)**
    • 7 pieces of content in national publications with readership of 500,000+**
    • 1 published book or book revision (at least 25,000 words) 
    • 120 minutes of income-producing video or audio (TV Show or Documentary)
    • 50 separate stock photo sales

*Advertorial or promotional copy can be used for one third (4) of the required pieces of content. Advertorial content is paid for by an advertiser, brand or sponsor, such as a resort, a tourist board or a CVB. 

*Work that is unedited prior to publishing can be used for one third (4) of the required pieces of content. This includes direct-to-publish, second-party, or self-owned sites regardless of readership. (Examples: Forbes or Medium)

What qualifies as a “piece of content”?

    • Written article or blog post (>250 words)
    • Photographs or illustrations for a written piece**
    • Video or audio segment (>60 seconds)
    • Chapter in book

**One illustrated piece counts as one piece of content. One piece written and illustrated by the same person counts as two pieces of content.

Application Fee: $50 US
Annual Dues: $225 US