Yes, I admit it. I watched Confessions of a Travel Writer starring the somewhat annoying and snarky, Charles Runnette, freelance travel writer. Charles seems to be the focus of the uproar around Confessions of a Travel Writer. People didn't like his negativity. Now they like Anthony Bourdain's negativity but not Charles'.
I tuned in because I wanted to see if Confessions of a Travel Writer mirrored my life as a travel writer. Yes, it did! There was the van and the PR person telling the journalists what they were seeing. There were the glimpses of destinations, restaurants and wineries. And, yes, there were the lost opportunities to commune with locals and really expore, in-depth a charming village you might just fall in love with. The travel writers on the show looked like "my" travel writers... snapping photos hurriedly, taking notes on a small note pad, recording interviews and loving the place they were visiting. (I now want very much to go to Chile after watching the show, don't you?)
So Confessions of a Travel Writer was real to me. And yes, when we get tired (and we do on our 12 hour marathon days), we might get a bit critical and snarky. So unless Charles is truly burned out, as some have suggested, he represents the one critical journalist we'll find on each trip.... just one, mind you.
Note to Charles.... if you are burned out and no longer experience the joy of seeing a new place and writing about it, it's time to exit stage right. But if you are not burned out, but were just a little tired and annoyed, try and redeem yourself on episodes to come.
From the Blogsphere about Confessions of a Travel Writer:
Confessions of a Travel Writer - Unofficial official site
World Hum - Interview with Charles and a Myriad of Comments
Brave New Traveler - Ian Mackenzie's Critique
Shira Lazar was there - See what she has to say.
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the new show, Confessions of a Travel Writer. I’m a freelance travel writer myself, and I appreciate a good travel show or an article, but I do agree that if a travel writer becomes less optimistic about what he/she does, then there is no point to showcase it to the ones who love to travel and look for the inspiration from the likes of you, me and Charles Runnette. I have a full time, and I also write about local and international travel on Examiner.com and my own blog, Uncensored Traveler. And still, with all the little time I have, every day I find a joy in discovering and sharing something to make another person’s travel fun, educational, adventurous, worry-free and exciting.
People like Charles and you who take fam trips are not travel writers. You are flaks for the travel industry. A pox on both your houses.
H. Barca,
The majority of travel writers are independent contractors. Many are hired per story but are not given expenses. Just how would you expect travel writers to do their job if their hosts did not pay their expenses? The average travel writers makes less than $40,000 a year. A trip to Chile as was shown in the show would easily cost $5-$10K.
I enjoy watching a variety of shows on the Travel Channel and after NR was over I gave this show a chance. Halfway through the show I hoped Charles would choke on a grape or get eaten by a rabid penguin. Others were interesting, except Jimmy, and deserve more time & focus. Jimmy just seems like the slow kid who gets caught picking his nose in the school picture. Tell Charles to watch Bourdain & take notes on how to whine with wit. AB=travel god. Charles=tourist bug you get from drinking the water.
I went on a press trip to Germany with Charles Runnette and it was really one of the weirdest experiences of my life. It was a spa trip but everywhere we went there were no spa treatments scheduled — they would just walk us through the spa. People started getting frustrated and strange. Charles bailed half-way through — said his grandfather was dying. He swore it was true, and maybe it was, but I had my doubts. He was very smart and funny but never stopped talking! It was much quieter after he left.