Blogging off?

This morning I’m sharing some of my insights about travel and blogging at a conference sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America and the Society of American Travel Writers.

I guess they figured someone who has published a Web journal for the last decade (please don’t call it a blog — I hate to be pigeonholed) might have a few things to say on the subject.

Who am I to disagree?

Let me get right to it. I think the conventional wisdom about blogging and travel is largely wrong. Here are the biggest misconceptions:

Blogs will destroy traditional travel media outlets. I’ve heard this from several friends with traditional media jobs (“The parasites! They’re killing us!”) and it sounds kind of plausible. Then again, please show me one traditional media outlet that’s been “killed” by a blog. Anyone? Anyone? Yeah, didn’t think so.

Bloggers are tomorrow’s travel journalists. They aren’t. In fact, most bloggers are not trained reporters, and they don’t want to become reporters. They’re perfectly happy pontificating on their own Web sites. Imagine that.

Blogs are not as credible as mainstream news outlets. Not true. There are a lot of big-name bloggers that have a greater reach than any number of A-list newspaper columnists. As someone who regularly toggles between both worlds, I can vouch for that.

Travel bloggers are just frustrated writers in search of freebies. Not all of them. Not most of them, probably. In fact, I’ve run across some of the most principled travel writers out in the blogosphere. My experience is that the exact opposite may be true: that the established journalists with “safe” jobs are the ones who are in it for the booty.

There’s no rulebook for travel bloggers. Nope. Every travel blogger has some kind of M.O. Maybe it’s not the same playbook you’d expect at a newspaper or magazine writer or a TV reporter, but it’s still there. It’s up to you to discover it.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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