How to Pitch: Afar
Hoping to land an in-depth feature story in Afar? Here’s what you need to know about Afar Magazine and how to pitch the publication the right way.
What Is Afar Magazine?
As Afar describes of its work, “AFAR is a purpose-driven public benefit company, and our ever-growing audience consists of travelers who care: conscientious and discerning global travelers who seek out experiences that reflect their values.” It’s a magazine and website that values rich storytelling that helps travelers delve deeper into the destinations they’ve long dreamed of visiting.
The magazine covers a wide range of topics, from in-depth destination features to personal essays, travel news, and tips for navigating the ever-evolving travel landscape.
How Often Does Afar Publish in Print and Online?
Afar Magazine publishes four issues per year in print, which include long-form features and practical travel advice. In addition to the quarterly print publication, Afar maintains a regular online presence on Afar.com. The website is updated regularly with travel news, destination guides, personal essays, and advice pieces.
What Kinds of Stories Resonate With Afar?
Here are some of the key types of stories that appear on Afar.com and in the magazine:
Destination Features: In-depth pieces that explore a specific place and what makes it unique.
Personal Essays: Essays that uncover transformative travel experiences. They should be introspective and evocative and capture the essence of both the place and the writer’s relationship with it.
Travel News and Trends: Afar.com also covers the latest news in the travel industry, including new hotel openings, airline updates, travel trends, and tips for navigating the changing landscape of travel. These pieces should be timely, informative, and relevant to Afar’s audience of curious and engaged travelers.
Practical Travel Advice: While Afar is more focused on cultural immersion than typical travel hacks, practical advice that enhances the travel experience is always a good thing to pitch. This could include tips on sustainable travel, how to pack for a specific type of trip, or advice on how to interact respectfully with local cultures.
Seasonal stories: Afar has several regular editorial features, including “Epic Trips” and “Where to Go” covering the best places to travel in the coming year.
How Can I Pitch Afar?
Pitching to Afar is like pitching any other publication (if you need help on pitching, including an easy-to-use pitching template), check out our “How to Pitch an Editor” course. Then, follow these steps.
Research the magazine: Before pitching, familiarize yourself with Afar’s content both in print and online. Read recent articles to understand the tone, style, and types of stories they publish.
Develop a unique angle: Afar, like all publications, is looking for fresh perspectives. Make sure your idea adds to the conversation, not copies something already published.
Craft a concise pitch: Your pitch should be clear, concise, and to the point — or, as we say in our “How to Pitch an Editor” course, no longer than 350 words MAX. Start with a brief introduction of your idea, followed by a short summary of the story, and include a proposed headline. Include any relevant clips of your previous work.
Follow the guidelines: Afar has specific guidelines for pitching different sections of the magazine. For feature stories for print, pitch to Katherine LaGrave, the Deputy Editor. As Afar’s pitch guidelines note: “For feature stories, photo essays, and personal essays: We are looking for richly reported stories that evoke a sense of place, inspire wanderlust, and ideally teach the reader something new about the world. Feature stories typically run 1,500–2,500 words, though we are open to considering stories that are shorter or longer.”
For travel news and trends, reach out to Michelle Baran. For these pitches, “… We are looking for stories that offer color and context to a new product, policy, or issue relevant for travelers. In our news stories, we include industry analysts, executives, travel experts, or travel associations that can weigh in on any given topic or debate. We also tackle larger issues, whether they revolve around sustainability, legislation, design, accessibility, inclusion, or health and safety. We look to embrace both the positive change as well as the pain points. Trends are key, too, but we aren’t simply looking to cover a trend—we want to explore how it affects travelers who care.” See more about pitching cruise, commerce, and hotel stories, along with all the editor’s emails, here.
Now, be patient: After submitting your pitch, wait at least five working days before following up. Then, send one follow-up, preferably adding to your pitch in some way (new facts, headlines, etc). Then, wait another week. If you don’t hear back, that’s OK. You can try one more time or pitch it to another publication.