About Us

World Hum was started in May 2001 with $35 and one goal: To publish the best travel stories on the Internet.

Countless travel publications and websites tell you where to go, where to stay, what to do. At World Hum, we focus not only on destinations but on the journey, on travel in the broadest sense of the word. We explore how travel changes us, how it changes the way we see the world and how travel itself changes the world.

Who are we? We’re storytellers of all kinds, from world renown authors and adventure photographers to videographers and bloggers on the backpacker circuit. What all of our contributors share is a passion for travel—and a talent for telling great travel stories.

Over the years, stories from World Hum have been honored with awards, including Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, and have been included in countless travel anthologies, including regular appearances in The Best American Travel Writing.

Follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and let us know .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Who are we?

World Hum was founded by Jim Benning and Michael Yessis. Thanks, also, to Eva Holland for her years of editorial work on the site.

Praise for World Hum:

Best Copy/Writing Honoree, 2010 Webby Awards

“Superb writing and stylish layout make visiting the site like cracking open a high-quality travel magazine.” - The Wall Street Journal

“The best darn travel writing Web site, period.” - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The “ultimate Weblog (or ‘blog’) for travel-related content that is devoted to the journey rather than the destination.” - Chicago Tribune

Gold Award, Best Travel Site, 2006 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards      

Bronze Award, Best Travel Site, 2003 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards

Silver Award, Best Travel Site, 2002 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards

Nominee, Best Travel Site, 2002 Webby Awards

“The essays on World Hum are beautifully written. But better than that, each bears the specific stamp of the traveler, quirky, curious and very human.” - Newsweek International

“The people behind worldhum.com ... offer a refreshing take on going abroad.” - Times of London

“A good example of a travel site working as a global information network.” - BBC World

“[T]his evocative site offers original dispatches and an extensive list of well-chosen links.” - USA Today

One of the 100 best Web sites for guys - Men’s Journal

“Poignant, informative and entertaining ... With all the swill that passes itself off as travel literature on the Web these days, it’s a nice change of pace to discover a site that truly grants readers a little vicarious adventure.” - Toronto Globe and Mail

One of the Net’s top literary travel sites - San Francisco Chronicle

One of the 101 most useful websites.—The Telegraph (UK)

“The quality of writing is first class” - New Sunday Express (India)

World Hum “provides a high-energy, in-your-face look at travel today” - Chicago Sun-Times

“A great place to go to read travel tales beyond the typical. It’s full of wonderful stories” - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“An entertainment fix for travel junkies, with engaging writing, an archive of stories, a weblog and links to travel Web site” - San Diego Union-Tribune

“Solid, entertaining content, a great travel writing weblog and quick-loading design.” - Lonely Planet

A “massive, ever-growing ... tell-it-like-it-is ... portal” featuring “tales of love, life, beauty and horror.” - Independent (UK)

“Fresh online travel writing.” - Travelers’ Tales

“A repository of fine travel writing”—Slate

“Vicarious travelers can find plenty of interesting stories at this site ... content excels.” - Detroit Free Press

“For a less corporate-sponsored environment, deeper submissions and more thought-provoking prose, try World Hum.” - Buffalo News

“A literary travel magazine high on links and wit” - Compass

“Young, fresh and stylish.” - Expatriate Cafe

“Ha textos interessantes” - Brasil Online

“Av og for intellektuelle vagabonder” - NettGuide