Guidelines for contributors

Traveller magazine

Traveller is the UK’s original travel magazine. Since 1970 it has reported on the real experience of travelling the world, and many leading explorers and adventurers are now on the Editorial Board.

Traveller is editorially independent and distributed quarterly to 18,500 members of WEXAS – The Traveller’s Club.

Submitting freelance articles

We do consider unsolicited material, but only for the slots described below.

Before submitting material, please read a recent issue to gauge the style and subjects that we accept. The magazine can be read online at www.traveller.org.uk and www.and-publishing.co.uk or you can buy a copy by post from our offices (cost £6.95 in the UK, cheques payable to ‘WEXAS Ltd’).

Then:

• Either – submit a full proposal, plus previously published articles/pictures to give us an idea of your style. If you have not been published by us before, we will request work on spec, not on commission.
• Or – submit the finished article and pictures. (You are advised to do this if you have no cuttings.)

You may have to wait some months for a decision.

Slots for freelance articles

The following slots are open to freelance contributors:

• Eyewitness/Visions: A destination-based narrative telling your own unusual journey or adventure. 800-1,000 words.
• Portrait Of A City: An impressionistic pen-portrait, not a factual guide for visitors. 800-1,000 words.
• Inspirations: An article based upon an adventurous or exciting activity for travellers, such as sailing, skiing, walking, kayaking, wildlife watching. Ideally in an unexpected location. These are not practical/how-to pieces, but rather are about the thrill of the experience. 800-1,000 words.
• Picture This: A 2-page photo-story: emotive images, colour or b/w, powerful or topical theme, no words.
• Reporatge/Changing World/From The Front: These slots are for more serious and thought-provoking stories, based on political, environmental or cultural topics that travellers encounter: must be based on personal experience of this issue overseas. 800-1,000 words.
• Readers’ Letters: Travel tips, controversial views, or feedback on the magazine. 2 or 3 paragraphs.

We do not publish the following: reviews of holiday destinations; free plugs for travel companies; slices of diaries. We cannot assess submissions that are a list of places: you must suggest an angle and a treatment.

Style and tone

Typically we publish evocative, first-person narratives. Write from your personal point of view, conveying your direct experience. Tell us what it feels like to be there, how it sounds and smells. Introduce local people, through quotes, conversations and interactions.

We look for: vividness, personal reflection, action, respect for local cultures, adventure, authenticity and humour. Articles need a theme and angle, as well as a location; narratives need a plot and ending.

Photographs

Without good pictures, we cannot publish your words. If you are not a photographer, make sure you can obtain professional-quality pictures from someone else, to accompany your article.

• Colour: we use high resolution (300dpi or more) digital photographs or original colour slides. Colour prints are not accepted.
• Black and white: send finished prints, not contact sheets.
• Electronic: low-res scans/jpeg files may be submitted for consideration purposes, but high-res scans/digital images (300 dpi) will be required for final publication. Scans should be made only from colour slides or b/w prints: scans made from colour prints will not yield acceptable quality and will be rejected.

How to present material

Articles

• Email them to traveller@and-publishing.co.uk, or post them to the Editor.
• Include a two-sentence biography and portrait picture of yourself.
• Use double quote marks for direct speech. Use italics for foreign words (except place names); double-check their spelling and accents. Double check place-name spellings.

Photographs

• Send at least 20 original colour slides or black-and-white prints (not colour prints). Or send a selection of low-res jpeg or tif format files for digital images.
• Include brief caption information and any picture credits.

Postage

• We recommend that any valued material is sent by Special Delivery or similar.
• If you wish material returned, include return postage. We return all photographs by Special Delivery.
• Whilst we take every care, &Publishing and/or WEXAS Ltd cannot be held responsible for accidental loss or damage.

Timing

Contributors’ deadlines for final copy are: 31 January for Spring/Summer issue; 31 May for Autumn issue and 30 September for Winter issue. It is best to submit material two weeks before this.

Acceptance of material

While the Editor may encourage a contributor to submit material, or may show an interest in material, this should not be construed as acceptance for publication.

Material is only paid for if and when it is published. We do not have the budget to pay ‘kill-fees’.

Payment rates

Payment for text and illustrations is made upon publication only, as follows:

• Text: £200 per 1,000 words printed (calculated per words printed, not per words submitted).
• Photos: £50 per photograph used up to A4, £80 for A4, £150 for A3, £150 for front cover. Package fees are offered for photographic features and rates vary according to feature length.
• Reader’s Letters: receive a year’s membership of WEXAS (which includes a free subscription to Traveller and other benefits). The ‘Star Letter’ will also receive a further prize.

Copyright

Contributors are responsible for copyright clearance, where applicable, on material which is not their own.

When written, photographic or artistic material is received for publication in Traveller, the author/photographer/artist is deemed, on publication, to assign interest, title and right to first and reprint use in any other WEXAS publication on paper or in electronic form, at no additional cost to the publishers beyond the amount paid for first use in Traveller. All other rights remain with the author unless he expressly chooses to assign such rights, outright, in writing to WEXAS Ltd.