Video, judges comments on winning entries online at SATWF.com
Lovers of travel stories and images will find quality journalism in writing, pictures, broadcasts and Internet posts among the winners in the annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition.
Best entries in 24 categories for the year ending March 31, 2017, were announced recently by the non-profit Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Foundation (www.satwf.com).
On the website (look left), you will find links to videos and lists of Lowell Thomas winners who produce excellent reports, reviews, and stories about their adventures and exciting discoveries all over the world.
For 34 years, the Lowell Thomas competition has focused on the best of travel journalism, paying faculty at top college journalism schools to judge the contest and rewarding winners with cash prizes that total about $20,000 each year.
As president of the SATW Foundation, I am pleased to report that the Foundation and its Lowell Thomas contest are stronger than ever, thanks to major contributions from Carnival Corporation, the world's largest leisure travel company with 10 cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
Bringing people together from around the world
The Foundation is grateful for Carnival Corporation’s financial support, which will total $240,000 over the six years, 2015-2020, and also for its recognition of the value of excellent journalists whose work has a huge impact on the millions of people who aspire to travel. Many Americans rate travel at the top of their dream list, saving as much as possible of their precious disposable income and disposable time to travel.
“Travel helps bring people together from around the world, and the media play an essential role in helping to inspire travelers to experience new and interesting people, cultures and places,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation.
Journalists, blogs, websites you should know
While some print media have ceased or diminished publication of travel news and reviews, other media are rushing in to take their places. Emerging writers, editors, broadcasters, and photographers also are doing some outstanding work through their blogs and new platforms of social messaging.
On the Lowell Thomas winners lists at SATWF.com you may notice that some of the best travel journalism is on websites, blogs or programs that you never had heard of, for instance:
Paula Froelich’s ABroadAbroad.com, which judges called “a quirky and irreverent travel site … exploding with personality … great travel guides and tips for solo travel.”
RoadsAndKingdoms.com, a continuing winner of Lowell Thomas awards, shines with new online travel guides judges found “useful, inspiring, and hilarious, designed to make your next trip a little more delicious, a little more intriguing, and a little less stressful.”
In Culinary-Related travel, writer Sarah Kahn won first place Gold for a story in Saveur magazine (online at Saveur.com), called “Eating Bunny Chow in Durban” South Africa.
“The US National Parks Turn 100,” on BBC.com/Travel, which judges said is "comprehensive and thorough without falling into the cliches that many travel sites promote."
I recommend that you give them all a look. Click here for the 2016-2017 Lowell Thomas video.
David Molyneaux writes regularly about cruising news, tips and trends at TravelMavenBlog.com. His cruise trends column is published in U.S. newspapers, including the Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, and on Internet sites, including AllThingsCruise. He is editor of TheTravelMavens.com