Assignment – An article or story assigned to you by an
editor.
Byline – Your name. Not all publications assign
bylined articles. You want a bylined article.
Clip – A published sample of your work. It can be a
photocopy or a scanned digital copy. This is also called
a “tear sheet.”
Comp – Sometimes writers on assignment get
compensated or reduced rates on lodging, attractions,
and meals. Be sure to check with your publication’s
guidelines before accepting comps. Some newspapers
and magazines will not accept “comped” trips.
Copyright – A copyright is your right of ownership for
anything you write. It can be formally copyrighted at
the US Copyright Office. See www.copyright.gov
Credits – A list of your published articles or works.
CVB – Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Deadline – This is the last possible moment you are
allowed to turn in an article.
Kill fee – This is a pre-negotiated fee paid if you are
assigned an article and the editor doesn’t use it. It can
be 25-100% or a set amount. Be sure to have this in
your contract.
On Spec – This is short for “on speculation.” An editor
may respond to a query accepting the article on spec.
This means you write the article with no guarantee that
it will be printed.
Payment – Contracts state monetary terms usually as
payment on publication or as payment on acceptance. It
is preferable to receive payment on acceptance. You
will be paid sooner, if at all.
Press trip – This is a research or familiarization(fam)
trip sponsored by a tourism board or public relations
company. There are group and individual trips. Most
group trips include transportation, accommodations,
meals, and activities. Individual trips usually do not
include transportation. Be advised: Not all publications
accept articles generated from press trips. Check
writer’s guidelines.
PR – This stands for public relations. A PR company
can represent various clients in the travel and tourism
industry.
Query – Your pitch of an article to an editor. This is
how you get assignments. If a publication states that it
wants postal queries only, then do not send an email
query.
Reprint – Selling an article over and over. You can sell
the same article to non-competing publications if you
retain your copyrights.
Rights – This should be negotiated in your contract.
Never sell all rights unless the money is significant.
Even then, I do not recommend this route.
SASE – Self-addressed stamped envelope.
Sidebar – An addition to article containing tips or
bulleted items (Ex. If You Go).
Simultaneous Submission – The act of submitting the
same article pitch to more than one editor.
Word Count – An editor may assign a 1,500 word
article. This is your word count and should be closely
followed because editors leave specific room in
publications for certain article lengths.
Writer’s Guidelines – These are rules of submission a
publication wants writers to follow. Each publication
has its own writer’s guidelines. It is advisable to adhere
to these rules.