Dear Travel Channel –
I normally love your programming and even blog about some of your shows, such as No Reservations and Samantha Brown. I applaud you for airing the pilot of “Confessions of a Travel Writer”. The concept is fantastic, and many of us in the travel industry have been discussing the idea of Press Trip: The Reality Show for years. We just didn’t know how to go about making it. I do have to commend your bravery for airing this show, because you had to realize the controversial nature of the subject, especially with all the new FTC rules on the table.
Charles Runnette, in his whining wisdom, does make it known that a press trip is not a free vacation. It is work. But, as my grandmother says, “Pick a flavor of s*#% you like. You’ll be eating it the rest of your life.” Judging by the comments on World Hum, Charles needs to pick another flavor.
Press trips are not free trips. They are, however, pretty darn good perks of the job, considering the paltry pay. For me, being a travel writer is amazing and wondrous. I have had experiences and moments in my life that I otherwise would never be able to afford. I didn’t grow up as a socialite from New Hampshire, nor do I live in a 1.2 million dollar home in the Smoky Mountains. I wasn’t raised by college professors, nor do I reside in Boca Raton.
I was raised by a firefighter and a draftperson in south Louisiana. I am a government worker, a mom, and a wife to a government worker. I’m someone who has been a writer since I was 17, but for almost a decade I have had a strong focus on travel. The closest thing I had ever come to a press trip was watching “America’s Sweethearts”. I had no idea travel writers took these types of trips and was under the impression that junkets were reserved for movie critics until I became a travel writer myself.
When I did get invited on my first press trip, I was in utter shock. I wanted to know what the catch was and how much I would end up paying for it all. That’s when I learned what being a travel writer really was. It isn’t about free trips and it isn’t about finding things to complain about. Sure, as with any consumer travel, you’re going to experience a dud of a trip every now and again. You need to travel each time as if it is your first experience and also find the beauty of the moment. Yes, you should travel objectively and tell the truth, but is every trip really that bad? I am so thankful to have had the opportunities that have come my way from travel writing, and when I return each time to my other life (my super-stressful, not really a lot of pay, benefits providing job where people die on me everyday) I sit down at my computer and share my travel experiences (the good and bad) with my readers, in hopes that they might find inspiration and information to make their travels that much more enjoyable. It is a responsibility to give your readers the real story, and for me, observing the other travel writers in their natural habitat is an added bonus!
Travel Channel, when you are ready for a reality show about travel writers, with a pinch of inspiration and comedy, and a host who is what your viewers are (average consumers with realistic budgets and day jobs that they want to escape, plus a bit too healthy of a body to be wearing a bikini on television, ahem) give me a call, and we can talk about Press Trip: The Reality Show.
What do you think about press trips or “Confessions of a Travel Writer” which aired last night on The Travel Channel?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen! I always kept in mind that I was getting paid to do this and to hear some journalists complain about whatever always made me wonder what their expectations were. I hate whiners and it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t see this episode based on things I have been reading. Love your site!
Makes me want to get back into travel writing.
Shannon, as always you call it as you see it. Loved this piece.
Great post! And wow, Charles is definitely NOT popular in the World Hum circles, ha!
So my thoughts are that while Charles made valid (albeit whiny) points, he still didn’t quite portray the “reality” of our jobs as travel writers–i.e. he kept saying it wasn’t a dream job (which, I’m sure we’ll all agree, it’s NOT), but the way TC framed the show, it sure looked like one. I wish they’d shown more of the nitty-gritty and the bad parts of our tasks in finding the story, as I get so sick of my friends telling me I “vacation for a living.”
I also wish it hadn’t been the Runnette Show. Two of my good pals, Chantal and Andrew, got virtually NO screen time, and I think it’s because they’re so normal and noncontroversial. Likewise, they showed little of Jimmy, who could have made a good subject.
Do you think it will be picked up as a series (like Runnette was lobbying for)? My thoughts were it was so poorly received that likely not.
I missed the show last night, because maybe as an artist AND a writer, I can’t afford cable! But I’ve been hearing about the show all over twitter.
It disappoints me when travel writers complain about press trips, or other aspects of their work. I’ve been on one press trip and loved it. Sure, it was independent, I was alone and made my own schedule, and it was great fun. So I’ve never experienced the gaggle of writer trips like some.
But like your Grandma says “Pick a flavor of s*#% you like.” Travel writing is an elective career and really, if a travel writer doesn’t like his/her chosen career, then get out. Because there are a lot of people with better attitudes who would love to have your job!
I imagine Press Trip: The Reality Show as a kind of outtake show. The reality behind the scenes. It could be fun (miscommunications, bleeps, silly accidents, and missed connections), and then ending in a really great meal with a glass of wine.
I agree with you Shannon!
Christy – You really should get back into travel writing.
Denise – So great to hear from you. I haven’t seen you since The Keys!
Camels & Chocolate – You of all people know how nitty gritty it can be. My daughter went with me on a five day press trip to a theme park resort. Her words: “We only spent a few hours the entire trip riding rides! Travel writing definitely isn’t a vacation.”
Kimba – I think it would be a funny show, given the unplanned adventures that usually go along with a press trip. I’m liking the glass of wine at the end:)
All great points – Shannon and everyone – have to agree that my friend Andrew didn’t get enough screen time and I really wish he had (full disclosure: he was writing for my magazine). Because part of travel writing is really sucking the marrow from the bone of the travel experience, not making snap judgments about a hotel’s room size (the ‘why didn’t they google me’ line was classic no?) or <> disparaging someone who actually speaks the language of the country. For most travel writers, press trips are part of the process, and the key is doing everything in your power to make an otherwise canned experience real.
Travel Channel has a great show with “Confessions of a Travel Writer” once they remove the miserable and boring host Charles “Ruined it” Runnette.
Each week there should be 4 or 5 travel writers on an amazing press trip. But please please please leave out the “too good for the room” travel snobs that often times make me cringe when I say I am a travel writer.
Uhm don’t you now have to review your terms and conditions?
Great point Guido. This will be a big topic of discussion at BlogWorldExpo in October.
Good post. I missed the premiere, but I will have to track it down. I relate to your thoughts, though.
Great post, Shannon. Thanks for sharing your humour, sincerity and down home common sense. Three traits that make for a great travel writer in our books. We’d love to see you hosting Press Trip: The Reality Show. The world needs more Cajun Mama!
Great post! I’m not a travel writer, and I don’t play one on TV, either. We traveled by Amtrak for the first time last month and loved it. Sure, there were downsides to the trip, but overall, it was far beyond expectations. We’d do it again. Would I blog the whole thing? Sure! I blogged the highlights because, as I said, I’m not a travel writer.
Love this piece. LOVE it!
There are Negative Nancies in every field. Sounds like the Travel Channel is featuring one. Such a shame.
Travel Writing is a good job you get a chance to travel all around the world and write your experiences to readers.Its a really fantastic job but every job has some limitations after all job is job you are on duty at the time of job you cannot do anything personally .
Very nice post. writing travel experience is not an easy task.You need to read lot of newspapers and magazines, so that you can use right words to write your tavel experience. Dont confuse your readers writing incomplete sentence. Write a real story, dont exaggerate. Dont use unrealistic words. For more details refer http://www.journeyidea.com/words-to-be-avoided-in-your-travel-blog-writing/
Shannon, You are just jealous because you are not hosting the show. Charles did an OK job as host. The issue is that this whole travel writing / press trips topic should not be the basis of a TV show. The audience should READ about the trips, not watch them.
Anon – I am very, very jealous!