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"Journalism: A profession whose business is to explain to others what it personally does not understand."
Lord Northcliffe, 1865 - 1922 |
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Opinion Pieces
These are opinion pieces by our members that have previously appeared on our home page.
They are listed in reverse order, with the top item being the latest.
Please remember: these opinions are written by individual members and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BGTW.
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The travel writers' trap by Carole Edrich |
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The travel writers' trap
10th May 2010
Carole Edrich, British Guild of Travel Writers
 I've often thought that advice given by gurus is rather like personal horoscopes; fun to read, occasionally thought provoking and bound by the law of odds to apply to some. However, over the last few years I’ve been disturbed that more and more people in all levels of life appear to blindly follow, abdicating a level of responsibility in decision making that can only ever be theirs.
There’s a huge difference between giving advice ethically and making blithe pronouncements. Judicious and sensible application of paradigms from anywhere (such as gurus, history or fiction) can work in problem solving irrespective of source, but blind application of a stranger's advice (even a well informed stranger) is to me as much anathema as blindly following a few words designated to apply to a twelfth of the entire population. Just as it’s not external consultants but the people within a business, who are the most likely to truly understand what’s really going on.
A travel writer may have a good knowledge of a country or region and preferences that may or may not be informed, but it is up to the traveller to digest this information and ultimately decide for themselves what to do and where to go. In the same way as hopeful individuals who seek advice from their stars have to decide for themselves whether it's right or proper to take actions that may change their lives.
So how can I make sure my work as a travel writer is worth more than the paper on which it’s printed or the electricity spent to keep it online? Balance, accuracy and currency of topic are obvious criteria but unlikely to make me stand out from the crowd. However, if I present a consistent, opinionated, well-written voice I’ll be more entertaining, and more ethical too by not presenting a tone that leads readers to believe they should follow without thought. Therein lies my challenge. If my voice is respected and acknowledged, do I become a guru too?
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The skipper wasn't optimistic about seeing a humpback. We were too late in the season, he reckoned. With the approach of the wet season in the Buccaneer Archipelago, the air was sticky and the water a "cool" 29C. Then, on the horizon, a faint splutter. With the twin-engine in full throttle, we sped in pursuit. For minutes, nothing. Then a gleaming black-and-white humpback torpedoed out of the water, landing on its back with a loud smack. There is nothing like a close encounter with a 35-ton whale for an intoxicating high.
Claire Scobie The Buccaneer Archipelago The Daily Telegraph, 4 April 2008
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