ABSTRACT
Travel journalism continues to be an under-researched topic in academia. This introduction lays out the framework for this book, which looks to build upon existing research and ideas surrounding the profession, spearheaded largely by Folker Hanusch. More specifically, it focuses on why travel journalism is changing, but remains important, in a digital media landscape. There are practices inherent to the profession which can have effects on the tourism industry that deserve attention. Tourism more generally relies on journalists but also on other actors who have appeared as the internet and social media have become more prevalent. At the same time, lifestyle journalism is becoming more popular in university curriculums, but further research is needed to understand how particular, niche forms like travel diverge from normative practices. By identifying, understanding, and challenging professional practices, future travel journalists will be able to respond more effectively to the changing demands and expectations of the tourism industry and tourists online.
