Comments on: Response: Travel Writing As A Political Act

By: Audrey

Audrey — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:19:04 +0000

Unfortunately, when most people think travel writing they think of the “Top Spas in the World” or “How to Get the Cheapest Flights” articles. There’s certainly a place for those articles, but there is a more educational and journalistic role that travel writing can play. And, I firmly believe that nothing replaces first-hand experience when accurately describing a country and culture.

Thanks for sharing this.

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By: Travel-Writers-Exchange.com

Travel-Writers-Exchange.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:08:09 +0000

I really liked this article. I happen to be a travel writer who chooses to look at travel through a different lens — political, cultural, socio-economics, spiritual, etc..I like to put my “investigative journalist” hat on when I travel. But that’s just me. I would probably travel to Burma if I wanted to get the story..I would just make sure I had a good “cover” before I went.

On the other hand, some travel writers enjoy writing about nightlife, destination spots, hotels, etc…and that’s fine. All of us have different takes on travel writing. That’s just how it is.

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By: Christine Garvin

Christine Garvin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:12:50 +0000

Tim, such important words. What impresses me more each and every day is that there is an “undercurrent,” if you will, of truth, the little guy (and girl), the person who believes that what your reap is what you sow making its way to the surface.

We, as citizen journalists, are telling our truths about everything from what affects our own daily health to what is killing people that we have no “connection” to. Because the reality is we are all connected, and what happens to one happens to the whole.

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By: Luisa S

Luisa S — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:07:29 +0000

Inspiring article, Tim. Just as on WTBD, you have a knack for impressing upon us the responsibility we all have to give back in some greater way. Very interesting piece, and I liked how you slipped in a reference to Chevron!

-Luisa

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By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:00:18 +0000

Tim,
Great piece and a reminder of the power that travelers as citizen journalists have! Now we just have to get more eye balls on alt- and online media instead of TV and mainstream outlets.

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By: joshywashington

joshywashington — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:21:02 +0000

wow. Great post Tim, this has got me so stoked! I have often felt while blogging while traveling that i was doing something worthwhile, something of value, as a sort of dispatch from the front lines of life…i know you know what i’m talking about.

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By: Carlo Alcos

Carlo Alcos — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:19:24 +0000

I’m half way through reading Flat Earth News, written by Nick Davies, an award winning journalist from the UK. He gives an inside scoop at the media world today. it’s shocking. If you’re studying to be a journalist right now, maybe not a good book to read because it doesn’t paint a very good picture (although, maybe at the end of the book he talks about how to improve it…will have to let you know later).

From what I’ve gathered so far though, the number of journalists employed by big media has gone WAY down…due to maximizing profits (it’s all corporate now). So the few journalists left are just churning what’s already on the news wire and PR releases, cuz that’s all they have time for. Fact checking is minimal, and they only give the readers “what they want” – if an editor doesn’t think a piece of news will fly with the readers he/she won’t bother with it and might instead go with the fight between Tom and Katie, even if it’s important.

“Journalism desperately needs a return to terrain, to the kind of firsthand, solitary discovery of local knowledge best associated with old-fashioned travel writing” – exactly. But unless the media puts aside maximum profits and starts becoming interested in the truth again, how likely is this?

This is all the more reason why it’s important for everyday people to spread the word about the truth of what’s going on. Great piece Tim, on my way to read your “must-read” essay. (don’t let Teresa catch you using that phrase)

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By: Ryukyu Mike

Ryukyu Mike — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:38:37 +0000

Hafta be careful sometimes, though. Like I plan on living here, so don’t want to upset the politicians. So, I just whisper to tourists on the beach, “Don’t swim here; it’s where everybody’s shit and laundry water comes down to the ocean. Swim over there where it’s clean”!
No problem doucmenting the situatiion in a country I’ll be leaving, though. Great article !

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By: Turner Wright

Turner Wright — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:31:19 +0000

I liked this one a lot, Tim. Now to report on fewer “feel good” countries and get into the meat of travel writing (with apologies to vegans).

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