I am a freelance journalist and travel guidebook author who writes for publications like TIME, National Geographic Travel, Lonely Planet, the Guardian and BBC Travel – and I want to change your mind.
I share stories about how others see the world in unique, fascinating, and often uplifting ways ie. how an Indigenous community made a river into a legal person, or how one man is saving a viper that could unlock the cure to breast cancer. Other stories demonstrate challenges, like those who say nickel is poisoning their air or homesteaders whose cob house has them in trouble with regional authorities. Some stories show surprising cultural traditions like naked night runners in Kenya, Creole cowboys in the Deep South and bread of the dead in Mexico. While others are just plain interesting, like the rise and fall of Montreal’s melon, Tuscany’s mysterious cave roads and the Amazon River wave that you can surf.
I also have a passion for distilling complex histories and cultures into easy-to-comprehend language as a Lonely Planet guidebook author. I have contributed to eight Lonely Planet “blue spine” guidebooks to destinations including Armenia, Morocco, Albania, Quebec, Mexico and New Mexico.
My overall mission is to show that there is more out there beyond our backyards.
Listen to this in-depth podcast interview to learn more about my life and career. And don’t hesitate to reach out about assignments, copywriting or consulting. My email is joelbalsam1@gmail.com

4 thoughts on “About”

  1. Hey Joel,
    I am studying to be a journalist from Liberty University. I was really impressed seeing your profile and wondered what does it take to succeed in freelance journalism like you?
    If it’s ok, I would love to hear your story about how you learned the trade and even worked for National Geographic!
    Are there still new opportunities?
    Any tips on a beginner journalist?
    Do you know of any part-time work or resources that could help improve my skills?

    I hope one day I could be where you are, with a lot of hard work and determination!

    Thank you for your time, please let me know what you think.
    Sincerely,
    Leanne Huang

    Reply

      1. Hey Joel,
        Sorry my life has been really crazy since last year. My husband and I moved to Maryland from Virginia and at the same time my mother came down with the Delta variant. So, there was a lot going on right after I messaged you last year. The good news is my mother pulled through and she is doing well. We are settled in Maryland, and I finally have an office set up for the first time in two years after moving out of a one-bedroom apartment. I am currently still going to school online and now we are expecting our first child!
        I have more time now that I am transitioning to be a stay-at-home mother. I hope to continue learning about what it takes to be successful in a career like yours. I am excited to be a mother, but I also want to keep sharpening my skills as life progresses.
        Right now, I wish I could do more, write more to help towards the Ukrainian crisis.
        I have restarted my WordPress News Blog and would like any advice of how to not only report solid journalism but how to make sure that I am reaching a broad audience.
        Do you have any advice about how to make a blog successful?
        Do I need to use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to be successful or other social media sites?
        Are there any things that bloggers should not do as a first-time blogger?
        Hope you are doing well and take care!
        Leanne Huang

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