From the backroads of Virginia to the tropical buzz of South Florida, Jesse Scott has carved a storytelling path that is as vibrant and versatile as the global destinations he covers. With an approachable voice, an ever-curious mind and a genuine heart for uncovering the good in the world, Jesse’s work spans travel, food, entertainment, culture, sports and real estate — all tied together by one mission: to spotlight the people, places and ideas making a positive impact.

A Dynamic Voice

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Jesse is the South Florida correspondent for Forbes Travel Guide, a Broward County writer for Eater, a monthly columnist for Aventura Magazine and a frequent contributor to Miami New Times, South Florida Business & Wealth and Time Out Miami.

Through the years, Jesse has helmed signature sections of Miami New Times like Night and Day, curated its Broward County-centric Taste Notes food column and has been an annual contributor to the outlet’s prestigious annual Best of Miami issue.

Outside of South Florida, his bylines span the globe — quite literally. As of 2025, he has penned features for National Geographic, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside Magazine, Hemispheres, Tripadvisor, Thrillist, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Caribbean Journal, Business Traveler and BBC.

In just two years alone (2023–2024), Jesse completed more than 1,000 freelance writing assignments — a feat fueled by his hyper-responsiveness, deadline precision and streamlined communication with editors and collaborators alike. Known as someone who’s “not a pain in the ass to work with” (yes, repeated verbatim feedback from editors and clients through the years), Jesse takes pride in making the editorial process clean, efficient and, more often than not, enjoyable.

Globe-Trotting

Jesse has become a trusted name in the world of travel writing, particularly through his expansive work with Lonely Planet. He has authored or co-authored guidebooks on Virginia, Florida, Panama, Miami, The Florida Keys, The Everglades, The USA and more. His editorial contributions to Lonely Planet’s globally-distributed books include work within Best in Travel, Dream Trips of the World, Offbeat North America and The Joys of Birdwatching. He’s also written more than 100 digital articles for Lonely Planet exploring destinations across Asia, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and North America.

Whether he's uncovering the wild beauty of Panama’s Darien Gap, discovering the best sushi spots along Japan’s less-touristy west coast or chatting with celebrities like Rob Lowe, Zooey Deschanel, Andre Agassi and Steve Aoki about their travel favorites, Jesse's work combines insightful reporting with an explorer’s heart.

A Genuine Passion for Communication

When he’s not writing, Jesse helps amplify local businesses through select, simplistic, business-forward social media collaborations, growing his own social presence to more than 100,000 followers through his travels and everyday happenings.

Complementing his journalism career, Jesse has thrived in the public relations world. He is an account director for The Firm Public Relations & Marketing, a celebrated Las Vegas-based agency where he has worked for a decade-plus with clients spanning the corporate, banking, nonprofit and healthcare spectrums. His PR resume also includes serving as the head of communications for Las Vegas Strip headliner Terry Fator, the highest-paid performer on The Strip at the time, as well as positions with Edelman Public Relations and Live Nation in D.C. He’s received numerous accolades for his PR work, including the PR News “Rising PR Star 30 & Under” award, plus dozens of honors through the years from the Public Relations Society of America, Marcom Awards and Hermes Creative Awards.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

Jesse’s storytelling journey began at just 16, writing for his hometown newspaper, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Even then, his star was rising — interviewing the likes of Billy Idol, Metallica, Jennifer Lopez, The Three Tenors, Kenny Rogers, Henry Winkler and The Killers before most teens had even picked a major. He still contributes to The Free Lance-Star from afar, never forgetting his roots.

After graduating summa cum laude from George Mason University with a B.A. in Communication and earning the school’s “Excellence in Communication” award, he cut his teeth behind the scenes at the BBC’s Washington D.C. bureau, further sharpening his storytelling acumen.

A self-proclaimed specialty coffee nerd and dive bar enthusiast, Jesse can now often be found battling it out on the pickleball courts when he’s not on deadline. He lives in Fort Lauderdale with his beautiful wife Lisa and their lovable rescue pup, Sammy, who made the journey with them from their prior home in Las Vegas to Florida.

To contact Jesse, email jesserobertscott@gmail.com.