Take high school courses such as journalism, speech, advanced English and computer applications. According to CollegeBoard.com., these classes will prepare you for a four-year bachelor's degree program in journalism.
Look for college journalism programs that fit your career goals. In typical journalism programs, you will have to focus on a specialized area such as newspaper, magazine, online or television journalism, according to Travel-Writers-Exchange.com. You also can look for online degree programs, which are convenient for students who need to balance their education with other life commitments such as jobs.
Apply to the bachelor's degree program of your choice. Schools typically will require you to have a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate and submit your transcripts. You also might need to submit your scores from standardized tests as well as a statement of purpose explaining why you are interested in attending that particular school and studying journalism.
Take journalism courses on topics such as writing for the mass media, visual communication, mass media ethics, mass media law and advanced reporting. Also, some colleges, such as Alma College, recommend taking elective courses related to the travel industry, such as a class about New Zealand or even golf. While taking classes, practice writing or producing video packages about events and attractions, such as festivals, museum exhibits, new restaurants or hotels, in your own city or state. Try submitting these freelance pieces to a newspaper, magazine, website or television station for possible publication.
In addition, take advantage of study abroad opportunities, which can help solidify a global area you are interested in traveling to and covering in the future. After graduating, you will want to decide whether to focus on a region, a culture or a travel specialty area like extreme sports or golf. So take advantage of the opportunity to travel to other countries while you are still in college and deciding on area to specialize in will be easier.
Complete an internship, which will give you hands-on experience in the journalism field. Internships usually are required before you can graduate. During your internship, network with reporters and editors in the industry and take advantage of opportunities to write articles or produce video packages about travel news. Create a portfolio of articles you can submit to travel magazines, news stations or websites. In addition, hone your digital photography skills because capturing attractive photos to go with your travel stories will make your pieces more marketable.