In today’s landscape, audiovisual content is crucial for success. Therefore, when packing a travel journalist’s suitcase for an adventure, we must consider more than just comfortable clothes and shoes. A travel journalist’s suitcase should be equipped to transport all the necessary materials to capture the destination and execute the project. These tools are essential for producing high-quality social media content, podcasts, videos, photography, and articles.
As professionals in travel communication and the tourism sector, we need to be proficient in multiple areas. While visual content currently dominates all platforms, it must be complemented by our writing skills. A versatile and comprehensive skill set is key to succeeding as travel journalists. Therefore, we must pack our suitcase meticulously, ensuring we don’t forget any crucial items needed to perform our work effectively. Take note!
What Should I Bring for a Trip?
To create various types of content, both written and audiovisual, here are the essential items you should include in your travel journalist’s suitcase. While these items are not strictly mandatory, they are highly recommended to ensure you produce a diverse array of high-quality materials.
Logbook or Travel Journal
An indispensable item for any travel journalist is a Moleskine travel diary. This allows you to chronologically document every detail of your journey. From personal feelings and experiences to various types of information or data, notable observations, interview questions or content, and detailed scene descriptions.
Express yourself authentically by noting all kinds of details, such as a person’s description, the colors of their clothing, the smells of a market, or the sounds of nature. Recording everything you experience during the trip will help you remember and preserve the “raw” material for when you return home to write your articles or chronicles.
Digital Camera
In a digital world dominated by social networks, having a digital camera is essential for capturing travel photographs that visually convey the essence of a destination. A high-quality camera not only enhances the material for social media posts but also offers opportunities for creating photo reports, selling images to media outlets or image banks, and even hosting photographic exhibitions.
It is also important to consider the camera’s weight and portability. Mirrorless cameras are an excellent choice due to their smaller and lighter bodies. If you prefer achieving a “vintage” photographic effect with the characteristic graininess of analog cameras, compact cameras are the most convenient option, as they can easily fit in your pocket.
Action Camera
The GoPro or 360 Camera are action cameras that offer fisheye image modification and are suitable for any occasion. Whether trekking through the Brazilian jungle or snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea, these action cameras are perfect allies for capturing your experiences.
For underwater content with zoom, 4K video, and macro capabilities, the OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 Camera is an excellent choice. It’s ideal for adventurous travelers seeking higher resolution in their travel content.
Wireless Microphone
A wireless lavalier microphone is an essential item in a travel journalist’s suitcase. It ensures high-quality audio for interviews and captures ambient sounds, immersing the listener or viewer in the travel destination. For optimal audio quality, place the microphone on the interviewee’s shirt, as close as possible to their mouth.
Mobile: Camera and Recorder
While a dedicated camera is essential, never underestimate the power of your mobile phone camera. The iPhone, in particular, excels in both photo and video quality, offering 4K recording capabilities that can rival those of professional cameras.
A smartphone provides several valuable tools for travel journalists, including voice recorders and note-taking apps for moments when a logbook isn’t available. It has become an indispensable work tool, enabling you to offload content from SD cards, edit photos and videos, and publish directly to social media.
SD Cards
SD cards are crucial as they provide the storage needed to save the material we capture. It’s essential to carry multiple SD cards to avoid running out of space and to have backups in case one becomes damaged or malfunctions.
SD Card Reader
A card reader is essential for transferring the contents of an SD card to a mobile phone or laptop, if available. By backing up the material to another device, in addition to the SD card, you safeguard against data loss and streamline your workflow. This also allows you to utilize downtime for editing photos or videos, enabling real-time social media updates and scheduling future posts.
Drone
While a drone is not an essential item for a travel journalist’s suitcase, it offers a unique perspective by capturing overhead aerial shots in both photographs and videos. Drones can be carried in your hand luggage and typically do not require airport declaration. Additionally, depending on the drone’s size and weight, pilot certification may not be necessary.
Stabilizer
While not a must-have in every travel journalist’s suitcase, a stabilizer can significantly enhance the quality of your content by providing better camera or mobile phone stabilization. This cinematic effect ensures smoother footage, making the viewer feel as though they are moving with the camera and becoming more immersed in the scene. The joystick adjusts with movement, delivering a more engaging and professional viewing experience.
Tripod for Camera or Mobile
For nighttime photography or shots requiring low shutter speeds and high exposure, a tripod is essential to avoid “shaky” images. Additionally, if you need to appear on camera while filming, a tripod can be adjusted to achieve the desired height and framing.
Portable Light
A valuable accessory for a travel journalist’s suitcase is a ring light or a portable light for your cell phone. This tool is especially useful when dealing with varying lighting conditions or capturing night scenes. It ensures high-quality material by providing consistent illumination. Depending on the model, you can adjust the light intensity and choose between warmer or cooler tones to suit your needs.
Portable Battery
When traveling, we often spend the entire day away from our accommodation and may not know when we’ll return. To avoid running out of battery, it’s crucial to carry a portable charger. This ensures you can keep your cell phone, wireless microphone, and other essential tools in your travel journalist’s suitcase powered throughout the day.
Batteries and Chargers
Never forget your chargers, especially those for your cameras, as finding replacements can be challenging depending on your destination. Be sure to bring the appropriate adapter for the country’s electrical outlets to ensure you can plug in your chargers. It’s also wise to charge your devices overnight to ensure they have enough power for the day’s activities.
Checklist to Pack a Travel Journalist’s Suitcase
Plan your packing in advance to ensure you are well-organized and have everything you need to execute your travel journalism project. Comfort and functionality are paramount for thoroughly exploring destinations and immersing yourself in their essence. Use this checklist to pack without forgetting anything:
If you aim to enhance your expertise and develop your own project as a travel journalist, the Master in Travel Journalism at the School of Travel Journalism offers the opportunity to professionalize with guidance from experts in tourism, journalism, and marketing. This program equips you with valuable tools and skills to become a versatile and well-rounded professional in travel communication.