Travelosophy

Bob Fisher, of www.travelosophy.ca, has some very pithy comments to make on the role of travel writers. "As travel journalists", he says, "we are the interpreters and story-tellers of what we are told, and we have to take these stories out to the world. People now are more sophisticated than ever before, and they want to know the full story".

"The public has to understand that we are working on their behalf, getting an objective look at a place. And we have to convince editors that people want to know these stories."

"Here are the basic concepts ... buzz words ... we have built into TR and are trying to continue to build into Travelosophy ... and on which Travelosophy is based:

multimedia
issue-oriented
global village
interconnectedness of all things
interdependence
real journalism (whatever that is)
public education
grassroots to the world
conceptual
multidisciplinary
industry friendly
fully collaborative ( we do not own the industry ... nor the issues ... nor "the message")
consumer advocacy and consumer awareness
socially responsible
non ethnocentric
ethical travel and travel journalism
non-formulaic
sharing the pie ... the pie is huge ... there are many pies
non-competitive (Lift that bale, tote that barge, get that media trip before the next guy)
cultural anthropology
travel as politics
travel as global economics
travel as the medium for exploring any travel-related issue (just about anything you can think of)
let the little fish have their say too ... possible via electronic journalism
media literacy
photojournalism
supporting globalization but only where we believe it is in the best interests of everyone (an endless debate and challenge of course ... but you have to start somewhere)

and ... I could go on and on ... "

To Bob Fisher, Global Travel Writers say "Hear, hear!" May Travelosophy grow and prosper!