KyAnn Lewis is the Editor of KidTripster. She’s a career journalist who spent 20+ years in broadcast news, earning Emmy and Murrow awards for her work. During the course of her TV news career, she worked in several different cities including Portland, San Francisco, Orlando, Houston and Greenville. After leaving TV news in 2018, KyAnn started travel writing. Her award-winning website KidTripster offers advice and inspiration for families traveling the world with their kids. KyAnn’s traveled to over 30 countries and counting with her two kids.
1. What got you into travel writing?
After leaving a high-pressure job in broadcast news, I suddenly had more time to travel with my kids. Our first big adventure was a six-week summer vacation to Australia and Asia. When I came home, I wrote several blog posts about our experiences and I suddenly found myself on a new career path. It’s exciting to use my journalistic and storytelling abilities in a completely different way.
2. What’s the most challenging part of being a travel journalist for you?
This is embarrassing, but it’s packing. I’m a chronic overpacker. I’ve invested in lots of expensive luggage over the years. I’ve come to accept that it’s not the luggage that’s the problem … it’s me!
3. What is the most rewarding aspect of travel journalism?
Without a doubt, it’s the opportunity to explore new (to me) destinations. My work has taken me to places I could never have imagined. My assignments have often pushed me outside of my comfort zone, usually in a good way. I’ve tried activities and foods I might otherwise have avoided. I’m fortunate for these opportunities and I certainly don’t take them for granted.
4. What is something you wish people knew about travel journalism?
Let’s be real. This is an expensive line of work! There’s a lot of out-of-pocket expenses involved, and not every trip is a vacation. It’s actually work.
5. What have you enjoyed most about being a NATJA member?
I love the opportunity to network with other journalists. I’ve made some great friends through NATJA events. I appreciate finding a community in what can sometimes be very solitary work.
6. How have cross-cultural experiences shaped your point of view of the world?
We can learn a lot about ourselves and each other through travel. I’ve seen it firsthand with my own kids. They were very young when we started traveling together. People often commented that it was a waste of money to travel with young kids because they wouldn’t remember it. I don’t believe it’s about remembering a particular trip, but it’s about building collective memories. My kids have experienced everyday life in countries around the world. They’ve attended camps with kids who speak different languages and still found a way to form friendships. They’ve tried foods many Americans have never heard of. These experiences have helped them become more adaptable, curious, confident, and overall better world citizens.
