RELEASE: Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition

TouchWood Editions is pleased to announce that Jody Robbins’ travel guide, 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit, has been awarded silver in the 2018 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition, overseen by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. The announcement was made September 24.

According to the official release, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is the premier professional organization of travel journalists and communicators, and the Lowell Thomas Awards are recognized as the most prestigious in travel journalism.

25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit is a guide teeming with savvy suggestions for families who are keen to explore Canada with their little loved ones; the book offers the insight and enthusiasm of a trustworthy, well-traveled friend. The book took silver in the Guidebook category. Rick Steves Iceland by Rick Steves, Ian Watson, and Cameron Hewitt (Rick Steves Travel) took gold, and Eco-Travel New Mexico: 86 Natural Destinations, Green Hotels, and Sustainable Adventures by Ashley M. Biggers (University of New Mexico Press) was awarded bronze.

“Parents of families in the United States can find new adventures of all kinds to our North using this guidebook,” commented the judges. “The variety of destinations across Canada with family-friendly activities, from cities to the outdoors, is a strength of this guide as well as the eight chapters on travel tips from packing like a pro to sharing space. Extensive resources help with planning.”

Named for acclaimed broadcast journalist, prolific author, and world explorer, the Lowell Thomas Journalism Competition is open to all North American journalists. SATW announced that this year’s competition drew 1,275 entries and awarded 86 prizes in 24 categories, including Journalist of the Year, Travel Coverage in Magazines, Foreign Travel, Photo Illustration of Travel, and Investigative Reporting. Awards were presented at the society’s annual conference in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Commenting on this year’s competition as a whole, the judges said, “It was evident that these creative travel journalists are upping their game searching for the unfamiliar and for creative approaches to storytelling. Through their extensive reporting, a number of writers looked for and found deeper stories.”

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Robbins grew up Alberta and now calls Calgary home. She has taught English in Japan, travelled overland from Beijing to London, worked in Europe as a marketing executive and lived in London with her family, and spends as much time as she can travelling.

Click here for more information on Robbins’ guide. To learn more about the Lowell Thomas Awards, visit SATWF.com.