London, June 2026: The Travel Media Awards Step Up internship scheme is inviting new partners from across travel journalism, publishing, public relations and marketing to help open doors for the next generation of industry talent, following a record-breaking year that saw applications rise by 29%. More than 500 applications were received for the 2026 programme, demonstrating growing demand for accessible routes into the travel media industry. 

Now preparing for its 2027 cohort, TMA Step Up is looking for a small number of additional partner organisations willing to offer hands-on experience across journalism, publishing, public relations and marketing, at London Living Wage, to emerging talent from underrepresented backgrounds. 
 
Maria Pieri, editorial director and COO at APL Media, said: “The most rewarding part of TMA Step Up is seeing participants turn their experience into a career. Our partners make that possible by giving emerging talent meaningful work, guidance and the opportunity to show what they can do. We look forward to welcoming more organisations to the programme in 2027.” 

Real experience, lasting career opportunities 

The impact of Step Up is already being seen in the career journeys of its 2026 cohort: 

• Ayşe Avan interned at Food and Travel magazine and Kuoni, and she’s started a full-time position as digital and social executive at Kuoni. 

• Dharshinee Krishna Naidu interned at The Sun and FINN Partners, and she’s started a full-time position as an assistant account executive at FINN Partners, two weeks after finishing her internship. 

• Rutalee Buch interned at APL Media and easyJet holidays. She saw her first print byline published in National Geographic Traveller (UK) and has since graduated from King’s College London with first-class honours. 

• Kavarna Spence interned at TTG Media and Virgin Atlantic, and is continuing her pursuit of working in travel and lifestyle journalism, with eight bylines in Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) and editorial experience behind her. 

• Nasreen Gordon interned at Intrepid Travel and Living360 and has now secured another internship at Financial Times. 

As well as their summer placements, this year’s interns also received six monthly mentoring sessions following the completion of the programme, alongside a complimentary ticket to the Travel Media Awards in London that took place on 26 October and provided further networking and professional development opportunities.

To find out more about becoming a TMA Step Up partner in 2027, contact: [email protected] 

For more information and updates, visit: travelmediaawards.com/travelmediaawards2026/en/page/step-up 

Notes to editors:  

Travel Media Awards Step Up is an internship programme run by the Travel Media Awards — in partnership with APL Media, Finn Partners, Intrepid Travel, TTG Media, Food and Travel, Living360 and Mail Metro Media — that aims to drive diversity and inclusion in travel media for young people.  

Travel Media Awards 

Travel Media Awards is owned and operated under by APL Media Limited. Launched in 2015, the Travel Media Awards produced by APL Media Limited is widely recognised as the premier awards event in travel media, and the only UK national awards exclusively rewarding editorial excellence and achievement across all forms of travel media. For more information, visit the travelmediaawards.com

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About APL Media       
APL Media is a multi-award-winning content marketing agency and publisher, creating high-quality print, digital and live media across the travel and lifestyle sectors since 1997. It’s published National Geographic Traveller (UK) under licence from National Geographic Partners LLC since 2010, alongside brand extensions including guides, events and digital platforms. Its portfolio includes Living360, a digital lifestyle brand spanning wellness, travel, food, sustainability and culture.        

APL Media delivers custom content, branded campaigns and editorial consultancy, internship schemes including Step Up and produces leading events such as the Travel Media Awards. It’s also a leading reseller of advertising for national newspapers. Its trade titles include Postcards and the ASTA Worldwide Destination Guide, with content also created for national newspapers. aplmedia.co.uk