BRIAN
JOHNSTON
AUSTRALIAN
TRAVEL WRITER OF
THE YEAR. TWICE.
ASTW AWARDS
Travel Writer
Thoughtful, useful and honest travel advice. THAT'S A PROMISE!
IDEAS. WORDS. RESULTS.
Born in Nigeria of Irish parents, you might say I was destined to become a travel writer: I've lived in the UK, Switzerland and China, and now call Australia home. I'm the author of three travel books and, as one of Australia's leading freelance travel writers, have a reputation for the quality of my articles and for my professionalism in dealing with editors, PRs and tourism operators.
I have twice won the prestigious Australian Travel Writer of the Year Award, judged on a portfolio of work by the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW). I was short-listed for the prize twice, and have twice won in the Best International Story category.
My most frequent outlet is the Traveller section of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (on Saturdays) and The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age (on Sundays). Articles are further syndicated in numerous regional Australian and New Zealand newspapers and published online at traveller.com.au, Australia’s most-visited travel website.
In addition, I have a weekly cruise column called "The Shipping News" in Saturday's Traveller, Australia's premier newspaper travel section, and am widely considered a top go-to cruise writer among Australian editors. I won the CLIA Cruise Industry's Media Award in 2016.
I have also contributed frequently to the shared Escape travel section of The Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald Sun, Brisbane Sunday Mail and Adelaide Sunday Mail. Escape is the most widely-circulated print travel title in Australia.
Other titles I have written for include The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The New Zealand Herald, Australian Gourmet Traveller, DestinAsian, CEO Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many other newspapers, magazines and websites.
I formerly spent three years as the editor of leading Australian travel publication Vacations & Travel magazine. I was shortlisted in the ASTW Awards as Editor of the Year in 2010.
WHY COMMISSION MY WORK?
YES INDEED, THE WORLD IS FULL OF OTHER TRAVEL WRITERS. Or make that travel writer wannabes, part-timers, hobbyists and hucksters. As most editors know, a full-time, professional, courteous, ego-free travel writer is rare as a Hottentot in Lapland. So please consider:
EXPERIENCE: I've had my travel writing published for over 20 years in major newspapers and magazines worldwide, as well as online, and won numerous travel-writing awards.
EDITORIAL UNDERSTANDING: I've been an editor myself, of a leading Australian travel magazine, and understand the publishing process, requirements and pressures from the other side of the desk.
QUALITY COPY: Long practice in copy-editing jobs and a masters degree in English Language count. I don't produce bad spelling and grammar, just stylish sentences. I might even know how to use a semi-colon.
PUNCTUALITY: A deadline is a deadline. Maybe it's because I grew up in Switzerland, but I'm never late. And I have no dog to eat my homework.
VERSATILITY: With experience ranging from broadsheet and tabloid newspapers to magazines, newsletters and websites, I can vary my style and content to suit the publication.
PROFESSIONALISM: I make a full-time living as a travel writer. It's not about a free holiday or a lifestyle. It's about running a business, meeting market needs, and doing it well.
PHOTOGRAPHY: I can generally provide accompanying high-resolution, quality, properly captioned photography.
"informative, entertaining and insightful
about the nature of travel"
(Robin Gerster, Australian Book Review)