Our Current Situation…

I started Vagabundo Magazine, and the brand that’s begun to shape around it, with two things in mind. For one, I wanted to provide a magazine option for people looking for stories that cut below the superficial level of travel destinations. I wanted great journalistic stories. Articles that make people stand up proud of the world they live in. Articles that make people realize that the world we live in is beautiful, but it also needs some work. I wanted to publish articles that inspired people.

Secondly, I wanted to provide new and aspiring travel writers the opportunity to have someone publish their work, and give them a bit of guidance when they need it. I am very happy that we have accomplished that second desire. Over the past year or so we have published around 100 different writers, I am very proud of that.

However, over the past couple months I’ve come to realize that we are missing something important with our online content – a voice.

So What???

Well, I truly believe that the voice of the magazine has been drown out by the variety of online content. We have had bits from nearly every demographic of people on this planet, which is amazing. But, I think it’s time to get focused.

How???

As of today, I have opened up the applications window at Vagabundo Magazine. We will be hiring 5-6 travel writers/photographers/videographers in order to fill 6 different part-time columns. I am sure that by adding columns to the magazine the voice of the online content can more consistently reflect that of our quarterly magazine.

Does this Mean no More Freelance Work???

No, there will still be freelance work, just less. We will be leaving Fridays open to freelance articles in what we will call “freelance Fridays”. This will allow us to be more selective in stories we choose.

Ever wanted to go to Antarctica??? I did a press gig early on for that opportunity.

What Will Columnists Do??

We are looking for a variety of columns, not just one specific style. Ideally, we would hire 6 people: four writers, one videographer, and one photographer. They will all maintain a column which will be published every 10 days. They will be working on a mentorship basis, as Will and I will be taking them under our wings and guiding them on the finer points of travel journalism. We will teach them things like crafting a story, researching, developing a story, ethics, as well as the more technical aspects of writing and photography.

Columnists will also have tasks which revolve around the actual magazine as well. They will have minor sections in the magazine issues to be covered on an assignment basis.  They will also be given the opportunity to write some of the features of the magazine.

Will there be Pay???

Yes, but not enough to travel full-time on. Writers will be paid a small negotiated wage for their work with us. We hope that we can eventually evolve these positions into full-time paid positions, but for now, we just can’t afford to do that.

What Other Benefits are There for the Columnists???

1. Mentorship: As I mentioned, Will and I will be assigned to each one of the columnists. We will be guiding you though and feeding you as much information and help as possible. Basically think of this as a field school for travel journalists.
2. Experience: Being able to toss “Worked for a Travel Magazine” isn’t something just everyone has on their resume. But more than just the “prestige” you’ll get so much valuable on the ground experience.
3. Press Privileges: There are many places in the world that you can’t get into for free. Moreover, there are certain experiences you just can’t have for free. When you have press credentials, doors open for you. You’ll be able to get yourself into things you couldn’t have imagined otherwise.
   

   Get yourself some press credentials

4. Blog Help: Will and I both have a lot of experience in building “blogs” to the point where they themselves earn good profits. We fully expect that our columnists maintain/start a blog. We will help you grow your blog, and when it gets to a respectable point we will help you monetize it.
5. Stepping Stone: We want to help you become successful. Throughout your employment with us we will work with you in building your career. We want you to succeed, and want you to get a full-time gig in journalism if that’s what you want, even if it’s not with us. We’ll help you get there.

What Type of People are we Looking For?

• Naturals: Of course the trades can be taught. But there is a certain art to travel journalism that some people are just born with. We want to see that natural creativity right off the bat, even if it is rough around the edges.
• Newbies: We don’t mean people new to travel, but maybe people new to travel journalism. If you’re already a full time blogger/journalist, then we’re probably going to pass. However, if you keep a blog (or even a personal journal) for fun, and always dreamed of being a travel journalist then we’d love to hear from you.
• Travellers: It might seem obvious, but we are looking for people who are currently travelling. If you’re on a 6-month ‘Round the World trip, or maybe a gap year or career break. You’re likely perfect.
• Diggers: If you think travelling to an island paradise and writing about how beautiful the island is then you’re looking at the wrong magazine. We want diggers. We want people who cut below the surface, learn about the history, the culture, the people, the problems. We want you to find stories that no one has read. Yes, we all know that the beach I beautiful, now tell us what we don’t know.
• Ambitious: We don’t people who are content with average. At Vagabundo Magazine we are ambitious, driven people intent on building something special. We want you to have that same drive to make yourself and this magazine a product that is a step above.

I’m Ready, How do I Apply?

I have attached a word document to this email (you can also copy/paste it from this page). Fill it out and send it to editor(at)vagabundomagazine.com with the title “Application”.

Download the application here.

Deadline for Applications is July 25th.  However, we will be starting the hiring process immediately so the soon you apply the better.

Good Luck!!!

Editor in Chief,

Brendan van Son

Brendan van Son

Brendan van Son, the Editor-in-Chief at Vagabundo Magazine, is a travel writer and photographer from Alberta, Canada. He is currently exploring West Africa while working on the "It's My Life 365" project. Brendan's work has been featured across the world in both press and on a variety of online productions.

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