Freelance Journalist takes "Twitchhike"

     I have found that Freelance Journalists are very versatile people. Some are mothers of two, staying home to care for their children while working with contracts. Some work a part-time job and write articles to send out at night. One unique freelance journalist, Paul Smith, decided he was going to take a trip around the world in 30 days, using the Twitter community as his only resource, while still keeping up with his freelance work.
     "I can only accept offers of travel and accommodation on Twitter, from Twitter users. No third-party offers," said Smith in a 'Twinterview' with journalism.co.uk (Journalism.co.uk). 
     One of Smith's trip rules was that he could only spend money on food and whatever he could carry once his trip started in the beginning of March, 2009. He laid out many other rules for himself as well. 

     "Essentially, I couldn't pay for any transport or accommodation during the 30 days; I could only accept offers of help from people using Twitter; I couldn't plan anything more than three days in advance; I couldn't spend longer than 48 hours in any one location – if I did, my adventure was over and I had to return home; and I could spend money only on food and drink.

     More importantly, I couldn't ask Twitter users for specific help – it was up to them to offer assistance and to decide on the route I would take. When I accepted an offer, I would arrange to meet the sender to pick up my ticket or whatever," said Smith according to dailymail.co.uk. 

      Twitter friends took him on an unbelievable journey including stops in Frankfort, Paris, Manhattan, Washington DC, and New Zealand. All the time, he kept up with his Freelance jobs. He eventually got back home in the end of April. He started up his own website, twitchhiker.com, and he has a new book coming out. 

Sources for this blog:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1293636/The-Twitchhiker-The-amazing-story-Paul-Smith-travelled-world-free-using-Twitter.html
twitchhiker.com
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news-freelance/s12/