Comments on: This is what’s pissing me off today (April 23rd, 2008)

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:22:56 +0000

Thanks for this lovely rant!

As a guidebook and travel writer, I’ve found the recent media explosion around accepting freebies, etc. both cathartic and annoying as hell. Everybody always thinks they can do somebody else’s job better. The NYT no-freebies-ever policy is ridiculous tripe. The first time I wrote for a guidebook (Fodor’s) I paid for everything myself. Having gone into debt for the privilege, I wised up the next time and let the big hotels foot the bill. (I still pay my way at mom-n-pops.) Did my reviews change? No. Why? I was never beholden to anybody to write a flattering review, whatever they offered me. Another little known secret: businesses have little recompense if a travel writer trashes them, justly or unjustly.

Thank god for your hulk reference. My growing snarl was reduced to giggles.

By: jeremyhead

jeremyhead — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:57:20 +0000

Leif you are so right… It’s the same here in the UK… But honestly these people sat on travel desks weren’t born yesterday. Just tell them what they want to hear… “Sure! I paid for the trip all by myself.” How can they prove otherwise? Let’s face it… they aren’t stupid. To have reached the heady heights of commissioning travel for the NYT they’ve taken a few freebies in their time. This “we don’t take stuff from people who’ve accepted freebies” bull is to keep the dumb readers who know no different and think the media is impartial and well-researched happy in their little cotton wool covered world… ahh the joy of travel writing eh?! (How’s your pension plan coming along?)

By: leif

leif — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:12:20 +0000

Catherine – further to our private emails, I think there’s a stage in a career like we have that you have to choose between notoriety and earning a living. I’ve been coached that if I ever want a book deal or TV show gig, I have to aim for notoriety. But, I’ve been pretty happy with the mid-point between notoriety and money I’ve had these past two years. By not setting my sights on regular NYT bylines, I may never get the brass ring, but in every other way, I’ve never been happier. So there.

AWT – It’s like that man. I feel like I’ll never be done reading about how other travel writers do their jobs. There’s countless permutations to this job and I think the trick is to find two or three that you can do well and you’ll be set.

Pam – Long time no commiserate. I don’t think a NYT byline has nearly the same strength now than it did ten years ago. I’d argue that your Hawaii work has more weight. I mean, the longevity of a single NYT piece versus a guidebook simply can’t compare. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Anne Marie – Thank you.

Maureen – I’m afraid I know very little about LPTV stuff. I’ve personally failed to impress them so far, so you might do better to ask someone who’s had some success. Or do like you do with pitching a new publication. Study what’s being deemed ‘showcase’ material and send in something in a similar vein, though in your own style, of course.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:34:21 +0000

Leif, my apologies, I may have hit the panic/despair key too soon. Just read the Sunday NYT’s Travel section, and on p.2, a short article “Lonely Planet.tv Looking for Amateur Travel Videos”. All one has to do is upload colorful and interesting amateur travel videos (I’ve got plenty) to the LP.tv site & if accepted as a showcase piece, $500 paycheck. So even if I can’t pass the Times Travel Ethics Test, I might just slip under the LP Review Radar and get in; you’ve got connections there…so maybe a word from you?

By: Maureen

Maureen — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:41:07 +0000

Well damn, by accepting Club Level upgrades and free WIFI & bottled water, did I sabotage my NYT travel writing dreams? Guess I’ll be posting to http://www.everywheremag.com

By: anne marie

anne marie — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:12:06 +0000

Well ranted, Leif.

By: pam

pam — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:11:35 +0000

The fact that I’ll never make it past the howling dogs of “ethics” at the NYT is made more palatable by the high quality of THIS RANT.

By: A. Wannabe Travelwriter

A. Wannabe Travelwriter — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:32:41 +0000

You know, I am new to this game, but wow…
I have read more about travel writing than writings about travel in the last few weeks.
Is it always like this?!?

I feel for the plight of someone who wishes to make travel writing-or any kind of writing for that matter-a full time gig.
As I recall, Don George-at a travel writing class in S.F.- said there were very few travel writers in the entire world making a full time living from doing nothing more than travel writing.
I am in the class of worker that you hard working freelancers probably hate: I am retired so I am doing this for pleasure (?) and NOT for a living.
As the NYT complaining about the quality of articles – isn’t that there job, to print the quality stuff and shit-can the trash?

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:08:05 +0000

NYT not accepting writers who have EVER been on a press trip is something I’ve been wrestling with, because a NYT byline is something I’d like to strive for. I see press trips offered all over the place, but I worry that in accepting one I might eventually feel how my church pastor in junior high told me I’d feel if I had premarital sex: that I’d always regret and thatmy future husband (if I could even get one after tarting about) would never respect me, and that all my other lovers would be in bed with us for the rest of our lives.

Hmmm… based on how well NOT saving myself has worked out for me in the end, maybe I should start accepting multiple press trips.

And perhaps this is a metaphor I need not extend any further.

By: elfin

elfin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:58:47 +0000

i resent what fabian says.
i hope fabian uses these parameters only for travel writing,because i have a long ,very long list of jobs with low rates and just saying “it’s not a very viable business because of high supply yadda yadda” is downright offensive. maybe the world does not owe a living(god forbid!in the US of all places!)but the world DOES owe not to exploit in every possible way fully qualified people that just want to lead a dignified life.
.complaining can do a lot .complaining has changed the course of history,complaining created the united states. so briefly ,what pisses me off today on top of the new post is fabians comment.