If there's one session not to miss in my live masterclass, How To Work In Travel Media, it's the one coming up this Saturday, February 21.

In it, I'll walk you through the foundations of pitching, based on my own decade spent pitching (and getting accepted) to publications, plus insights from editors I've gathered over the years.

This session is valuable for anyone wanting to work with publications, but it extends far beyond that.

Why?

Because many of us regularly pitch our ideas and projects, whether we work as freelance writers, operate in a corporate team, or look for a sponsor to continue building our business.

The principles of pitching I'll cover in this session will make all your pitching more successful.

Tickets cost $55; all participants will get the slides + the recording.

Don't miss this session >>

See you on Saturday!

xx Yulia

Inside Going Places 🏠

Kazakhstan beyond Borat

The next season of our podcast is returning soon, and I can't wait to bring you fresh episodes and conversations – our line-up this season is especially wonderful!

In the meantime, let's go back to Kazakhstan, a place of my birth, in this conversation with Almaty-based journalist Aisana Ashimova.

Aisana is an independent journalist who owns several media businesses. She uses her platforms to advocate for women's rights in Kazakhstan and advance her activism.

Take a listen here.

Fighting for Women’s Rights in Kazakhstan
An independent journalist builds her media empire.
Going PlacesYulia Denisyuk

New series alert: Community Voices

ICYMI: we just launched a new Going Places series called Community Voices.

In it, our community members help us get a deeper understanding of the places they are from.

In the first installment, my former student and travel writer Nicole Melancon is sharing what it's like to be in Minnesota right now.

On the heels of last week's news that ICE will be withdrawing from Minnesota (NPR), this message couldn't be more urgent: the need to restore their community will be here for months to come.

Read the full story, along with suggestions on how you can help, here.

In Minnesota, We Are Not Ok
Our need will be here for months to come. Here’s how you can help.
Going PlacesNicole Melancon

This week's creator opportunities

💡
Paid members get full access to these posts, and they get them three days ahead of the free newsletter. For less than a cup of ☕, you can unlock yours here.

🚀 A $16,000 fellowship for creators & storytellers – apply by the deadline of Fri, Feb 20

🚀 A travel grant for indie publishers to visit Germany this Fall – apply by Sat, Feb 28

🚀 An indie travel magazine is seeking travel, culinary, and lifestyle pitches – no deadline

🚀 A call for pitches on life and travel in Canada – no deadline

🚀 Business Insider is looking for a number of travel pitches – no deadline

🚀 A travel publication is hiring a Video Formats Lead – no deadline, but apply soon

🚀 Wine Enthusiast is open for pitches – no deadline

🚀 A hosted cruising experience in Croatia this summer – no deadline, but apply soon

🚀🔓BONUS: Revenue Rulebreaker is seeking travel pitches – pitch by the deadline of Sat, Feb 28

🚀🔓BONUS: A residency on an island in Lake Superior with a $4,000 stipend – apply by the deadline of Sun, Feb 22

Find all the latest opportunities here.

🔓 Bonus opportunities are unlocked for our free subscribers.

Travel With Us ✈️

📣 Just a reminder that I'm bringing a group of travelers to Jordan this June! 📣

Several folks have approached me in the last few weeks, asking how/when they can travel with me.

This is it: meet me in Jordan, this June!

In The World 🌍

We're now part of the Independent Journalism Atlas 🎉

Last week, the Independent Journalism Atlas launched its inaugural database of independent journalism creators.

The database tracks independent voices who are building new models for storytelling, investigation, and community engagement across platforms, topics, and geographies. 

I'm happy to report that I, alongside our Going Places platform, am part of this effort!

The Atlas includes journalism creators who are:

  • Building independent ventures with their own distribution channels
  • Producing journalism broadly: reporting, analysis, opinion, curation, or explanatory
  • Serving audiences missionally, not just building personal brands
  • Trusted messengers to loyal communities
  • Operating ethically with appropriate transparency

So it's an honor and an accomplishment for me personally and for our platform to be included in this database, and for our effort to be recognized.

At Going Places, we believe in journalism through an anti-oppression lens. We believe in decolonizing travel.

Our goal is to tell stories that build awareness, empathy, and solidarity with communities worldwide for people who want to engage with the world.

(See our full mission here.)

I resonate deeply with the way the Atlas is framing this:

"Traditional journalism has too frequently left out too much. The common thread isn't format, platform, or credentials. It's missional work that advances information and understanding for a community."

That is us. And we're so grateful that you're part of this mission and journey with us.

Know an independent journalist who should be part of this database, or perhaps it is you? Submit a nomination here.

RISE Travel Institute is our Founding Member

RISE is a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education

Interested in your organization becoming a Founding Member? Get in touch here.

Radostina Boseva is our Founding Member

Radostina Boseva is a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based in San Francisco.

<< Become a member to support our independent journalism >>