ABOUT COURTNEY

Courtney Traub (She/Her) is a journalist, travel writer, editor and online media specialist. She is an expert in the travel, tourism, food, arts and culture sectors, and a recognized authority on France and Paris, having lived in the capital for a decade. She is also specialized in web content strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), original news reporting, and developmental editing for academics.

Founder and Editor of the popular website Paris Unlocked, she is the former Editor of About.com Paris Travel, which was part of the New York Times Company prior to its acquisition by media group IAC (Newsweek, Daily Beast, etc.) in 2013. Under her stewardship, the site became one of the most visited destinations on the web for English-language information and features on Paris, attracting millions of unique visitors and capturing top search engine placements for some of the most competitive search terms in the sector. It was incorporated into the TripSavvy network in 2017.

Courtney is also co-author of the Michelin 2012 Green Guide to Northern France and the Paris Region, and has reported a variety of stories on French politics, culture, fashion and the arts for outlets including The Associated Press, Women’s Wear Daily and Radio France International.

Academic Editing & Developmental Editing

In addition to her work as a travel writer and online content developer, Courtney regularly works for the journal Museum International (ICOM/UNESCO) as an external editorial coordinator and copy editor.

With a Doctorate in English from the University of Oxford, and a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, Courtney is an active scholar in American and Comparative Literature who has worked with many academics to hone and improve their articles and book manuscripts. See her Portfolio page for concrete examples of her academic editing work.

Online Content Development & Search Engine Optimization

Courtney has over 15 years of experience building strong, search-optimized online content in the travel, tourism, arts and culture sectors. She has helped several businesses and organizations develop high-quality, relevant web content that capture top rankings in Google and other search engines.

She has worked with businesses including Exclusive France Tours, Fat Tire Tours, Webedia and Visiplus to design winning content and SEO strategies.

Business Reporting & NGOs

Courtney also has a strong background in business reporting and trade journalism. Between 2007 and 2009, she was a reporter and interim editor for several trade publications owned by Reed Business Information, covering the global personal care sector. More recently, she has written and reported stories for trade journals including BW Confidential and Inside Food & Drink Magazine.

A native English speaker who is fully fluent in French, Courtney is a capable translator with experience translating both general and technical documents. She has collaborated with NGOs such as CARE France, International Rivers and with researchers at France’s CNRS, editing and translating a variety of documents– from annual reports to grant proposals and mission statements.

She is currently based in Norwich (UK) where she lives with her partner, young daughter and rescue cat, Matilda.