Point Charts

Points Chart

 

Please note the following rules regarding qualification into the Society of American Travel Writers as a freelancer:

 

New Member: 12 months

Requalification: 36 months

 

1) You will need 21 points according to the chart below, or you must meet the blogger/website owner requirements, in order to qualify for membership.

 

2) The maximum number of points that may be attributed to a single project, other than books, regardless of word count or photo contributions, is 8 points.

 

3) Everything you submit with your freelance application must be for paid work—work published without payment will not be considered.

 

4) A travel article, image, video, broadcast, blog entry, website contribution, or mobile app must be editorial content that shows, describes, evaluates, discusses and/or facilitates travel. The viewpoint must not be dictated by any advertiser or travel vendors referenced in the article.

 

5) Advertorial or promotional copy can be used for one third (7) of the points for membership. Advertorial content is paid for by an advertiser, brand or sponsor, such as a resort, a tourist board or a CVB. Sponsored copy should be clearly presented on blogs or in print as sponsored content. Custom publications containing editorial content, such as in-flight magazines, are allowed.

 

6) Any combination of travel books (or chapters), articles (print or online), images, videos, broadcasts or individual unit sales will be considered. The work need not be bylined or captioned if the editor or publisher of the publication will attest to its authorship.

 

7) In the case of dual bylines, the production of the team must meet the requirements for two memberships. A single applicant earns half points for a co-bylined article.

Travel Articles

Articles that have appeared in traditional print media, websites or blogs in the past 12 months.

  • If your work appears in both print and on the publication’s website, add an additional point to your score.
  • If your work has appeared in multiple outlets, please take the highest point level based on circulation and add 1 additional point (up to 8 points total including circulation) for each additional outlet it was published in.
  • Earn additional points for your published photos (see still photography). If you have photos that appear in a travel article, add the points from the photos to the points from your article to calculate the total points you receive for the submission.

 

What Defines a Travel Article?

A travel article must be a minimum of 250 words and Your travel product must meet the standard established by the US Travel Association, which defines a tourist as an individual who travels more than 50 miles from home for business or leisure. For example, a restaurant review in a newspaper 100 miles away about your local restaurant is a travel story. However, a local restaurant review in your hometown newspaper or website is not a travel story. Work about your local community is acceptable as long as it appears in an outlet that draws readership primarily from outside your location. This includes regional outlets, if the region covers more than a 50-mile radius.

 

Score      Circulation/Uvs:

1 pt            10,000 – 100,000
2 pts          100,001 – 500,000
3 pts          500,001 +
 

Still Photography

Tell us about the work you have done in travel photography in the past 12 months. If you have photos posted within a travel article you have written, add the points of the photos to the points you receive for the travel article when submitting your application.

 

Less than Half Page
Score      Circulation/UVs

1 pt            10,000 – 100,000
2 pts          100,001 – 500,000
3 pts          500,000 +

 

Half Page or More
Score      Circulation/UVs

2 pts          10,000 – 100,000
4 pts          100,001 – 500,000
6 pts          500,000 +

 

Double Spread or Cover
Score      Circulation/UVs

4 pts          10,000 – 100,000
6 pts          100,001 – 500,000
8 pts          500,000 +
 

Books & Apps

 

SATW defines a travel guidebook as a print or digital product. Self-published books are also considered. Content for books and App must have been completed in the last 24 months.

 

This includes chapter contributions, revisions/updates or original text. Provide a brief summary of the book, including number of words or photos, number of sales or any other information you feel is relevant. Include a link to Amazon, iTunes or your publisher’s site.

 

Books Earn

  • 16 points original book for a work with a minimum of 25,000 words or 100 photographs
  • 10 points for book revision
  • Smaller books earn 1 point per every 1,500 words or seven photos in a book or chapter

Apps

 

Score      Sales

2 pts         1,500 +
4 pts         2,000 +
6 pts         2,500 +

 

Revisions earn 50%
 

Video & Audio Media

 

For contributions to broadcast, cable and/or digital outlets, provide links to stories that include your video, audio recording, images, podcast and/or text that have aired in the past 12 months. Your stories must be approximately 60 seconds minimum.

 

Score      Audience:

1 pt           10,000 – 100,000
2 pts         100,001 – 500,000
3 pts         500,000 +
 

Direct-to-Publish & Second Party Sites

 

If you write for sites where your work is unedited prior to publishing, you may provide links for up to 5 stories. SATW accepts only five stories posted in the past 12 months. No additional points are awarded for photography in this category.

 

Score:
1 pt per story
 

Websites and Blogs Websites and blogs owned by an applicant with over 25,000 UMV may join the Digital Publishers Council. Smaller websites receive the following points towards membership:

 

Score                    Monthly UMV

2 pts                     2,500 – 5,000
3 pts                     5,001 – 7,500
4 pts                     7,501 – 10,000

 

POINT CHARTS

Travel ArticlesList your articles that have appeared in traditional print media, websites or blogs in the past 12 months. If your work appears in both print and on the publication’s website, add an additional point to your score. Earn additional points for your published photos (see still photography). If an article is syndicated or sold more than once, you may combine the circulations of the publications where it appeared and claim points based on one-half of the total circulation.What Defines a Travel Article?A travel article must be a minimum of 250 words and Your travel product must meet the standard established by the US Travel Association, which defines a tourist as an individual who travels more than 50 miles from home for business or leisure. For example, a restaurant review in a newspaper 100 miles away about your local restaurant is a travel story. However, a local restaurant review in your hometown newspaper or website is not a travel story. Work about your local community is acceptable as long as it appears in an outlet that draws readership primarily from outside your location. This includes regional outlets, if the region covers more than a 50-mile radius.Score: Circulation/Uvs:1 pt 10,000 – 100,0002 pts 100,001 – 500,0003 pts  500,001 +
Books & AppsSATW defines a travel guidebook as a print or digital product. Self-published books are also considered. Content for books and App must have been completed in the last 24 months.This includes chapter contributions, revisions/updates or original text. Provide a brief summary of the book, including number of words or photos, number of sales or any other information you feel is relevant. Include a link to Amazon, iTunes or your publisher’s site.Books Earn16 points original book for a work with a minimum of 25,000 words or 100 photographs10 points for book revisionSmaller books earn 1 point per every 1,500 words or seven photos in a book or chapterApps
Score:   Sales2 pts 1,500 +4 pts 2,000 +6 pts 2,500 +Revisions earn 50%
Video & Audio MediaFor contributions to broadcast, cable and/or digital outlets, provide links to stories that include your video, audio recording, images, podcast and/or text that have aired in the past 12 months. If applicable, provide Arbitron figures for the period in question verifying a minimum of 10,000 listeners/viewers. Your stories must be approximately 60 seconds minimum.Score: Audience:1 pt 10,000 – 100,0002 pts 100,001 – 500,0003 pts 500,000 +
Still PhotographyTell us about the work you have done in travel photography in the past 12 months. If you sell photos through a stock agency, provide a statement of sales. Recognizing that photographers don’t always know where their stock sales have appeared, points will be assigned based on reports from agencies that provide size and circulation details. If your stock agency doesn’t provide such details, tell us as much detail as possible and we’ll assign at least the minimum number of points. Photographers may also contribute to their final score by incorporating points from any or all of the additional categories.Less than Half Page
Score:  Circulation/UVs1 pt 10,000 – 100,0002 pts 100,001 – 500,0003 pts 500,000 +Half Page or More
Score:  Circulation/UVs2 pts  10,000 – 100,0004 pts 100,001 – 500,0006 pts 500,000 +Double Spread or Cover
Score:  Circulation/UVs4 pts  10,000 – 100,0006 pts 100,001 – 500,0008 pts 500,000 +
Website & Blog OwnersIf you own a website or blog, here’s what we look for:You qualify for SATW as a Freelance Council member if your website or blog has an average of 10,000 visitors per month over the last 12 months and meets the following requirements:

  • Minimum 26 new travel articles in the last year.
  • Minimum 250 words or 60 secs per post.
  • Demonstrated revenue source.

Smaller websites receive the following points towards membership:Score:  Monthly UVs:2 pts 2,500 – 5,0003 pts 5,001 – 7,5004 pts 7,501 – 10,000
Direct-to-Publish & Second Party SitesIf you write for sites such as Examiner or similar sites where your work is unedited prior to publishing, you may provide links for up to 5 stories. SATW accepts only five stories posted in the past 12 months. No additional points are awarded for photography in this category.Score:1 pt per story