Chris Dwyer, formerly the Director of Communications at CNN and Turner Broadcasting in Hong Kong, gave up that comfortable corporate life to become a freelance food and travel writer. Here he describes how writers can build relationships with PRs, and what you need to to know about how PRs work in order to score press trips.
You can also watch this interview on YouTube:
(00:43) Transitioned from CNN to freelance writing after 14 years in corporate PR.
(03:09) Started a food blog, leading to paid travel writing opportunities.
(10:48) PR background helps in pitching and building industry relationships.
(11:20) Creating solid relationships that result in press trips.
(14:36) Prepares for press trips by securing assignments in advance.
(19:32) Reporting the truth, even when it's 'negative' or critical.
(23:15) How he discovers his next story.
(26:33) How he got into food writing.
(29:00) How food writing always gets traffic, stoking opinions and cultural pride.
(33:05) Consultancy spans industries, supporting his writing career.
More about Chris: https://www.chrismdwyer.com/
Previously on the WEW podcast:
Should you join a writing society? Interview with Pres. of the Society of American Travel Writers
The 'enshitification' of travel writing - this publisher has a warning for travel brands
'Voice' in travel writing | Interview with writer, editor, author Chuck Thompson
Travel writing from scratch - Interview with Portugal journalist Lucy Bryson | Travel Writing Skool
Niche vs generalist: Interview with 'dog-friendly travel' writer Lottie Gross
How a struggling travel writer finally wrote for CNN, SCMP, NatGeo and more
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