Some freelance writers seem to view public relations specialists as some sort of conspiracy to control just what topics writers cover. The truth of the matter is, though, that PR folks can be crucial to your success as a travel writer. Want access to a hotel a little cushier than the one you’re staying at? Want a clue-in on any upcoming events? Want a chance at those ritzy junkets? All of those require a little help from our friends in the PR industry.

Seek Out Great Sources

When you’re first familiarizing yourself with a location, PR representatives can provide you with an automatic in. Make the rounds of the local hotels, museums, tourism boards and other organizations even tangentially related to the travel industry. Introduce yourself to the local PR folks: you’ll be handed story ideas and sources on a silver platter, especially if you already have a project or two lined up.

Maintain a Working Relationship

It’s cool to ask PR people for some help when you’re working on an article. Actually, most of the PR folks I’ve had the opportunity to work with are excited when I want to talk about their organization in an article. They offer up press releases, print-quality images and quotes almost faster than I can ask for them.

But it’s important to remember that you’ve got a working relationship. You’re the writer — you decide what information to include in your articles. No one else (except for your editor) gets to choose the slant of your story, whether to cast a company in a positive light or anything else. You don’t have to run an article past anyone with PR in their title before submitting it to your editor. But be nice about it.

Don’t Burn Bridges

As a writer, it’s crucial to avoid burning bridges. You need to be able to return to sources and gather new information down the road. That’s doubly true when you’re talking about PR. In most cities, everyone involved in PR knows each other. And their reach goes beyond just what sources you can talk to.

Many freelance writers pick up side work through PR. A press release here, an article for an in-house magazine there — all those PR representatives can be just as much a part of your bread and butter as your favorite editors. It’s well worth your while to play nice with PR.