Travel Writer's Happy Hour

Newspapers: San Juan County Historical Society takes over newspaper

As the future of print media continues its long fade into the night, here's a new spin on the 'let's make papers non-profits!' movement: the San Juan County (Colorado) Historical Society has picked up the pens and will now operate the Silverton Standard and The Miner, dual local pubs of the mountain town, population 500.

What's next? NYC & Company running the New York Post? Time will tell.

Skill Sets: Travel Channel 4-day video journalism courses

Expand your marketability and enjoy a week of video training in Washington, DC. Courtesy of the Travel Channel. Full article in the USA Today.

5 Things Tripping Me Out About Austin

1) They warned about the cranes and shiny new scrapers..

2) My level of disconnect - all so new on fourth at, all so young by sixth.

3) That I'm posting from the place my wife and I had our first date!

4) That last time I lived here George W was the governor.

5) That I still got that far west vibe watching the sun set across the inner hills on Congress st bridge, and that I followed that sun all the way west to the Pacific over a dozen years ago.

On the road to atlanta

For TravelCom 2009, the ecommerce forum. Should be good for insight if not laughs. Follow my takes up to the minute on twitter: twitter.com/jaycooke

Article: LA Times embraces, chases social media

We read of the troubles at the LA Times, part of Sam Zell's collapsed Chicago Tribune consortium. But here's an insightful piece from the Knight Digital Media Center on ways the beleaguered California daily is looking to leverage new media in its efforts to serve the community. Featuring old Lonely Planet pal Andrew Nystrom.

The jury's still out on profitability, the 800-pounder in the room: Granted, everyone's moving online for their news. But is anyone really clicking through all those ads?

The iPhone Travel Apps Guide - The New York Times > Travel > Slide Show > Slide 1 of 12

I'm still not paying for nada, but here's some sweet virtual shopping:

The iPhone Travel Apps Guide - The New York Times > Travel > Slide Show > Slide 1 of 12.

iPhone city

A photo of my bookshelf, shot by the new iPhone! Just 2 hours at stonestown in at today. If you're wanting the 3g take this tip: go midweek and have your details squared away. And when you get into the app store, get thee to pandora. Better than ever!!

Juicy NYT Travel Producer Gig

From our friends at PaidContent:

Travel Guides Producer

Posted Jul 15

NYTimes.com, New York, NY

 

TRAVEL GUIDES PRODUCER

The Travel section of NYTimes.com is seeking a Producer to join our online newsroom. 
He or she will collaborate with the Web and print editors in presenting the contents of the weekly Escapes section of the newspaper on NYTimes.com in an exciting and visually powerful way and develop our destination and interest guides using Travel articles from the New York Times and licensed content from a guidebook partner. Additional duties will include producing photos and original multimedia for the travel guides.

Responsibilities:

- Collaborating with the Web and print editors, producers and reporters to enhance the Travel and Escapes sections of NYTimes.com.
-- Post the contents of the newspaper on NYTimes.com in a manner that is consistent with The Times' style and sensibilities as well as useful to Web readers.
-- Working with our guidebook partner to add to and maintain a database of hotels, restaurants and sights.
-- Excerpting and editing copy from Times travel articles to create short reviews of hotels, restaurants and sights.
-- Conceiving of features and tools for our travel and interest guides, and working with a team of editors and developers to build them for the site.
-- Creating multimedia features and enterprise projects for the Escapes section specifically and travel and interest guides in general.
-- Ensuring the consistency and accuracy of presentation in the travel guides, including content, design and navigation.
-- Reader comment moderation, consistent with Times guidelines.

Requirements:

-- Demonstrated passion for travel writing and journalism.
-- Writing and copy editing experience.
-- Exceptional computer skills and familiarity with online media, including knowledge of HTML, Photoshop, multimedia production and other applications.
-- Attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines in a daily production environment.
-- Familiarity with photo production strongly preferred.
-- Ability to work a flexible night and weekend schedule as needed.

NYTimes.com offers a highly competitive salary and benefits program including: comprehensive health coverage, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, tuition assistance, and a bonus program.

10 Great Places in NYC

It's been a while since we've touted all that's great about MUG, the Manhattan User's Guide, run by Charlie Suisman.

Charlie's been posting great daily NYC content on the site for eight years now, and always delivers fresh insights on the city. Case in point? This YouTube video of 10 Great Places, as nominated by Place Matters, a project of City Lore and the Municipal Art Society of New York. Great example of how video can lend great sense of place to your site.

New Lonely Planet Boutique on Amazon.com

Pretty neat new showcase on Amazon for Lonely Planet, the world's leading travel guidebook publisher (and employer of yours truly.)

The Lonely Planet Boutique is a custom sales channel for LP's full range of guidebooks to countries, regions and cities around the world. You can search for titles geographically, or browse suggestions in categories (beautiful beaches, urban adventures) that match your travel interests.

Plus check out a neat video of Tony & Maureen Wheeler, who started the company in a Sydney kitchen 30-odd years ago, after a long-haul trip across Europe and Asia from London.