The Importance of Travel Journalism

Abstract

Travel journalism is not travel writing. Nor is it travel blogging. Travel journalism is a writing form all its own. Even though travel journalism is often dubbed as a lesser form of journalism, it is indeed an important medium of information, especially as our world shrinks with globalization. Travel journalism must stay factual and the authors must strive to be non-biased in order to decrease the feeling of "us" versus "them" among peoples, reduce miscommunications--whether in business or between locals and travelers-- and to help readers understand the culture and importance of a place they visit. A travel journalist must go beyond writing reviews of a festival, museum, or hotel-- that's travel writing. Travel journalists must explain what each of these things means to a culture. Travel writing appeals to tourists, while travel journalism appeals to travelers-- those who want to authentically understand other cultures.