About Michael
I’m the co-founder and co-editor of Travel Channel Media’s World Hum. Jim Benning and I launched World Hum on a shoestring in 2001, combining great travel storytelling with the power and versatility of the internet to create a pioneering travel website. Our blog was among the first travel blogs, and many of our stories have been honored with Lowell Thomas Awards by the Society of American Travel Writers. More than a dozen World Hum stories have been featured in the Best American Travel Writing anthologies.
Since the Travel Channel acquired the site in 2007, I have continued my role in managing and developing the vision and direction of the site. I have helped guide World Hum into video, slideshows, audio stories and graphic storytelling, and I’ve helped the site build its presence on Twitter and other social media. I participate in the travel community offline as well, speaking about blogging, writing and internet publishing at the National Press Club, the Travel Blog Exchange, Johns Hopkins University and other places. My latest move: I’ve helped develop and launch Travel Writing in the Digital Age workshops.
Before the Travel Channel
I began my career as a writer for the Santa Monica Outlook and Daily Breeze newspapers, and soon moved to magazines as an editor of travel, adventure and other departments at Men’s Fitness and Men’s Journal magazines. In the late 90s, I moved into digital media, first at Guidance Solutions in Los Angeles, and then developing editorial at On the Road and Sports ID in the San Francisco Bay area.
After the dotcom bubble burst, I became the Editor in Chief of Texas and New Mexico Journey Magazines before moving back online exclusively as the Destinations Editor at USAToday.com.
As a writer I’ve contributed to Salon, Westways, Sunset and other publications.
Personal
I live in Rockville, Maryland with my wife, Sarah, and our toddler son. When I’m not chasing him around, I strum the guitar, ride my bike and try to find good Mexican food in the Washington D.C. area. I’m also at work on a novel.
