Therese Iknoian
Therese Iknoian
Therese Iknoian
Categories
Content Marketing Writer Author Journalist
About
Trained as a news journalist, I spent a decade as a daily newspaper reporter where I earned a Pulitzer Prize as part of a news team at the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News. I then turned to a focus on health/fitness/sports journalism and a series of related books after earning a master’s in exercise physiology. Today, I focus on prize-winning journalist's research and writing combined with award-winning photography.
Much of my writing appears on a blog (HI Travel Tales) or in our Substack newsletter, both of which I run with my husband. Plus, I continue freelancing when inspired in the fields of travel, health, food, wine and culture, e.g. CostCo Connection, Matador Network, Perspective Travel & Next Avenue (RIP). As a photographer, I often supply both photos and writing for assignments. I also have exhibited in numerous photo galleries and have had a solo exhibit focusing on my visit to Chernobyl in 2020.
My profile is available on MuckRack; my photos can be seen on my photography account; and social media is on Instagram @ThereseIknoian and @HITravelTales. My base is in the greater Sacramento area of California, and in Berlin, Germany. I also speak German (fluent) and French (intermediate).
Additional Info
Location (City or region) : Sacramento, California & Berlin, Germany
List any memberships you have with other organizations : Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)
General Subjects (Select all that apply) : Arts & Culture, Fitness & Nutrition, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel, Wellness, Health & Medicine
Specialty Subjects : Sports and outdoor activities and products, travel of all kinds, camping and outdoor adventure, solo woman travel, health/fitness/wellness.
Skills (Select all that apply) : Articles, Blog posts, Books, Brochures, Copywriting, Editing, Feature writing, News, Photography, Web copy, Advertorials, Essays, Profiles, Investigative reporting, Media relations
Writing Credits : Next Avenue, CostoCo magazine, TravelWorld International, International Food Wine Travel Writers magazine, Backpacker, Men’s Health, Fitness, Health, Shape, Women’s Day and Parenting, among others.
Former contributing editor for new-defunct Walking magazine
Founding Ask The Coach columnist for Trail Runner
Former self-syndicated fitness/sports newspaper column.
Non-fiction book author.
Have worked with agencies such as Masthead Media and brands such as Best Western.
Book Credits : Stay Healthy while Traveling (HITravelTales.com, 2018)
18 Tips to Taking Amazing Travel Photos (HITravelTales, 2019)
German language tips for travelers (HITravelTales, 2017)
9 Essential Travel Photography Tips for Any Traveler (HITravelTales, 2016)
Fitness Walking (Human Kinetics, 1st edition/1995, 2nd edition, 2005)
Tai Chi For Dummies (Wiley, 2001)
Mind-Body Fitness For Dummies (Wiley, 2000)
Walking Fast (Human Kinetics, 1995)
contributing expert-author: Precision Heart Rate Monitoring , Men's Fitness Magazine's Complete Guide to Health and Well-Being
Awards & Recognitions : >Team News Pulitzer Prize, San Jose Mercury News, 1990
>2025 International Food Wine Travel Writers Association photo contest BEST IN SHOW
>2024 Photographer of the Year, North American Travel Journalists Association
>2023 Minimalist Night Photographer of the year, top-3
>2022 Best in Show, photo Architecture B&W, Nevada County Fair California
>2022 ''Best Independent Travel Blog'' Top-3
>2022 Gold portrait, bronze night & urban landscape, HM IFWTWA
>2023, 2022, 2019 'Accepted to show', juried CA State Fair photo exhibit
>2021 ''Best in Show'' travel photo + gold & silver, IFWTWA
>2020 Washington Post Travel photo contest 3 rd overall
>2019 Silver, illustrated story; gold & silver medals photography, North American Travel Journalists Association
>2018 ''Best Independent Travel Blog'' honorable mention, silver & HM illustrated story, NATJA
Membership Type
Professional Membership