Kira Richards

When it comes to journalism, Kira Richards knows that well-reported, compelling stories are a public service. Guided by the stories of her home city, her culture, and the wider world, she’s mapped a pathway to lifestyle and travel journalism in a space where people don’t always look like her. With a string of internships at major publications, excellent mentors and iron resilience in her toolkit, Kira’s journeyed from the Financial Times to National Geographic Traveller (UK). Here, she shares her tips for making a splash in the industry, with concrete advice on pitching, networking, and self-promotion – free from fear.

What I do

How would you describe what you do?
I’m a travel and food writer, interested in heritage, food traditions and cultural communities around the world. As an assistant project editor at National Geographic Traveller (UK), my role includes managing branded content campaigns for the magazine and website, commissioning and editing travel journalism and writing my own articles.

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
I take a lot of inspiration from my British-Caribbean heritage and visits to my family in St Vincent and the Grenadines. I’m always thinking about how I can share underrepresented aspects of my culture with our readers.

I feel very fortunate to have lived in London my entire life. I grew up here, studied here and continue to live here. There are many places across the city which provide inspiration. After exploring the local markets, I often find so many stories to tell; for me, the best ones come from meeting engaging people, so I enjoy the East End for its eclectic characters and community spirit.

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
I studied BA Journalism at City, which was the best decision for me personally – University was the right step and an environment I really thrived in. The undergrad course at City encompassed so many areas of the industry, from print and broadcast to social media, building a portfolio and networking opportunities. I really cannot recommend it enough if you’re interested in a journalism degree.

Saying that, a degree isn’t the only route into travel journalism. Certifications such as NCTJ can also equip you with foundational journalism skills, as do internships and apprenticeship schemes.

Skills-wise, it’s essential to be open-minded and curious about different people and cultures – you never know when inspiration for a story will strike! Also, be willing to learn and grow from mistakes. Rather than being harsh on myself for not knowing something, I make a note and use it as an opportunity to improve my skillset. I’m in the early stages of my career and have a lot to learn from those around me.

Kira graduating from City, University of London

What’s been your favourite project to work on from the past year, and why?
The past year has enabled me to write more print stories, which is always an enjoyable and insightful experience into how publishing works. When I was an editorial intern at HTSI, the Financial Times’ luxury lifestyle magazine, I had the opportunity to interview Bridgerton actor Victor Alli about his neighbourhood of East London. It was one of the best-performing FT Weekend articles that week, so I’m incredibly proud of that.

I’ve also been able to work on some fun stories about food and drink. Last year, I wrote about where to find the world’s best matcha for HTSI, which was picked up by the US and Asia editions of the FT newsletter. I also loved writing about London’s Caribbean food scene for FT Globetrotter last year, which came out on Notting Hill Carnival weekend.

In July, I travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a National Geographic Traveller (UK) story about the 10th anniversary of its annual pickle festival. Researching, writing and interviewing for the article was really enjoyable. I also had the opportunity to try a lot of fun and unusual pickle-flavoured delicacies I otherwise wouldn’t have!

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
I work on our branded content team, so my day-to-day is mostly ensuring campaigns are running smoothly – from devising story ideas for upcoming articles, uploading stories to the website and liaising with clients to create the best collaborative content.

When I get a spare moment, I’m either writing up stories which have already been commissioned or thinking of ideas to pitch. No two days are the same, and whilst it’s busy, it’s really enjoyable and rewarding to be working on projects I’m passionate about.

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out?
In many ways, I still feel like I’m starting out! I graduated two years ago and started my current role almost a year ago, so I feel very fortunate to be in my dream role so early on!

When I first finished uni back in 2023, I was very nervous about graduate life and finding employment. I wish I’d slowed down a bit and not put so much pressure on myself to have everything figured out immediately. At that point, I didn’t know anything about travel journalism and that I could have a job where I get to tell incredible stories from across the world.

Before securing a full-time role, I did three internships. The first one at HELLO! Magazine helped me get quicker at writing copy, with print deadlines at the end of each week. I then spent six months at the Financial Times, which was an incredible experience I’m so grateful for – it provided the foundational skills of reporting and journalism that I use every day, from rigorous fact-checking to finding contacts and approaching PRs.

I feel like I found my feet quickly, but I was also able to seek advice from more experienced writers. This really helped guide me through the elements of the industry I knew little about, such as networking events, travel media conferences and building a portfolio.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs, clients and/or commissions?
When I had no bylines, I first thought about my dream publication and then approached a similar publication on a slightly smaller scale. This was really useful in helping me gain clarity on what types of stories I wanted to write and where. I would scour the internet and social media for contacts, email addresses and pitch call-outs. I also did a lot of research for pitching templates and top tips before sending my first pitch in December 2020.

Cold pitching can be scary, but it’s also an important exercise for seeing what does and doesn’t work about what you’re sending out. It also built up my resilience when it came to rejection — I used to take every rejection so personally. Now that I have sent quite a few successful pitches and commissioned writers myself, I have a better appreciation for how the process works and why stories are turned down. Unsurprisingly, it’s not always because it was a bad pitch or you did something wrong as the writer.

In terms of jobs and internships, I was very fortunate to have been recommended for my first role through my university community. Once I had my foot in the door, I applied to as many lifestyle journalism opportunities as possible. I always lead with enthusiasm, a strong understanding of the publication and a willingness to learn. It's always proved an effective strategy for landing roles.

Kira and the 2025-26 TTG Media 30 under 30 cohort

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
Getting a full-time role was challenging. For a year or so, I felt stuck in a loop of internships and was frustrated that I couldn’t break out. Despite not getting a permanent position as quickly as I hoped, interning was an invaluable stage of my career; it enabled me to work at several publications, including the Financial Times, National Geographic Traveller (UK) and HELLO! Magazine. This gave me opportunities to network, go for coffee with in-house editors and build relationships in the short time I was there.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work?
Incredibly important! Showcasing your work and building a portfolio is a huge part of being a writer and often what editors use to gauge your abilities. It’s very important to have a portfolio you’re proud to show to others. I used Journo Portfolio to build my website and really recommend it to anyone working in the creative industries looking for a way to present their work. It’s super easy to use, plus there are free and paid options. I’ve even had compliments on my website for its clarity and design, so it’s definitely worth putting the time into.

I used to feel shy about sharing my work on social media, but it’s one of the most important steps for getting your name and your bylines out there. I was completely getting in my own way by not sharing my writing! Now, posting about my new stories on Instagram and LinkedIn has opened the doors to more support from my online networks and even press trip opportunities. I’ve even had people I hadn’t seen for years message to say how much they’ve enjoyed a story of mine. Getting over the initial awkwardness of it is very much worth it.

Feature for the Financial Times' HTSI

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?
During my studies, I found Journo Resources very helpful for general journalism skills and discovering opportunities. I’m still subscribed to the weekly opportunities newsletter to keep my ear to the ground on new schemes and roles in the industry, as well as freelance call-outs. I often forward links from there to friends looking for different jobs and opportunities. In terms of newsletters, I also really enjoy Freelance Writing Jobs by Sian Meades-Williams and Talking Travel Writing, run by Lottie Gross and Steph Dyson, for professionals in the travel industry.

I love podcasts – She’s So Lucky, hosted by Les Alfred, always has insightful guests who are mostly, if not all, black women building businesses and creative platforms. I think the show has helped me develop more self-belief when it comes to building confidence within my career, especially in spaces where people don’t always look like me. There’s some really great life advice sprinkled in too, so it’s a very well-rounded podcast aligned with some of the challenges I face in my career as it develops.

I also read every issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK) to help me further understand the writing style and to enjoy the incredibly well-written stories. There is still so much I want to learn about crafting compelling articles, and despite working for the publication, I still feel like I can approach and enjoy the features like a consumer.

Have there been any courses, programmes, initiatives, access schemes or job boards you’ve found helpful or would recommend to get into your sector?
My first break into the world of travel journalism was Intrepid Travel’s inaugural diversifying travel media press trip. In September 2023, myself and three other then-aspiring travel writers from underrepresented backgrounds went to Croatia with four experienced travel writers — Lottie Gross, Meera Dattani, Shafik Meghji and Georgina Lawton — to learn about the industry. This experience changed my career trajectory, providing me with the skills and confidence to work within travel media.

In 2024, I took part in the Travel Media Awards Step Up scheme, which was the starting point for landing my current role. The scheme, which just finished its second year, is for 18-30 year olds from underrepresented backgrounds, including people of colour, individuals with disabilities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Through eight weeks of placements across travel journalism and public relations, I gained a better understanding of how the industry works and determined I was better suited to a writer and editor role.

TMA Step Up also gave me the industry connections to gain mentorship from some of the best editors in the industry. I’m incredibly fortunate to have had that one-to-one time with them to further my knowledge.

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
I don’t think I anticipated how challenging freelance life would be when I was first starting out. There were a couple of brief periods where I wasn’t in a full-time role, and trying to secure bylines and get noticed with little experience was tough! I feel incredibly fortunate to have had financial stability, and appreciate it’s not that straightforward for everyone.

When I was doing shift work for various publications, I definitely could have negotiated for better pay – a lot of the daily rates were incredibly low despite working several days for some titles, even going into their offices multiple times a week. I know it can feel daunting to ask for more money, but I firmly believe writers should be fairly compensated for their work. It’s best to do some research, set your rates and see how you get on. Be realistic, but also don’t lowball yourself! It’s always worth asking.

Advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
The worst thing that anyone can say is no! Once I took the fear out of pitching, applying for a job, approaching someone for an interview or taking a chance on something I was nervous about, I realised more often than not, people say yes! It surprised me, and I was so grateful for how many people were willing to give up time to speak with me.

In magazine journalism, a no is not personal; it could be for a variety of reasons, such as something similar being recently commissioned, or it not resonating with that particular editor. It should not be seen as discouragement. My former lecturer, Dr Johanna Payton, taught us that hearing back from an editor, regardless of the outcome, was a win. And she’s right – there’s a lot of information to be gained from a rejection. If used correctly, it can improve the quality and accuracy of future pitches.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
Be determined! There have been so many setbacks in my career which I have not always publicly shared, which felt frustrating and demotivating at the time. However, there is so much to be learnt from challenging situations. They have only spurred me on to keep improving my craft and strengthening my skillset.

Don’t compare yourself to others – it’s easy to see the highlights and assume everything was plain sailing, but that’s not always the case. Everyone has their own paths into the industry; there is no right or wrong, or one particular timeline.

In terms of travel and food writing, it’s important to be passionate about storytelling and journalism just as much as the prospect of going to various destinations. First and foremost, journalism is a public service, and it’s important to remember that the reason we do what we do is to report accurately and create an interesting reading experience. It’s important not to lose sight of that.