From CNN to Emmy-Winning Travel Storytelling: Building Travel in Style with Tomeka with Tomeka Jones

Send us Fan MailShe didn’t even get a passport until 28, then built a career that took her from CNN to reporting travel stories around the world. I’m joined by Tomeka Jones, an Emmy Award-winning travel journalist, television host, executive producer and the founder of Travel in Style with Tomeka. We talk about what it really looks like to break into a major newsroom, learn the craft and keep moving forward even when the industry hands you a layoff. Tomeka shares how producing and reporting gave her the power to “own the story,” and why that skill set matters more than ever for travel media, streaming platforms and social video. We dig into the moment she decided to start her own travel production company, the fear she had to push through, and how she landed early contracts once she committed. You’ll also hear about her distribution on Local Now (a Weather Channel sister network) and YouTube, plus a recent Egypt river cruise story that highlights Black history and heritage through more inclusive travel experiences. We also get practical about the business side of travel journalism: what makes a strong partnership with public relations professionals, how hosted trips and paid work can fit together and why “polished” isn’t always what audiences respond to anymore. If you care about luxury travel, diversity in travel marketing, authentic storytelling and how travel news gets made, you’ll leave with clear takeaways and a fresh perspective. Connect with Tomeka JonesWebsite: https://www.travelinstylewithtomeka.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZAPzqj_MqzlU04jxYbbjoInk2DurROtpListen to the Travel-ish PodcastInstagram: @travelinstylewithtomekaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomekajones/Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves travel and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.