Wrong, wrong, wrong

We did it again. And we got away with it.

The media warned travelers that holiday travel — specifically air travel — could be the “worst” ever. We predicted long, TSA-induced delays, fuller flights, mayhem and chaos at the airport. You know, end-of-the-world stuff.

Here’s my contribution. Sorry, NPR.

Well, we were wrong.

(If you want to read about how one travel blogger saw the error of her ways, read from the bottom to the top of this page. Note: I have no idea what a Thanksgiving Task Force does, other than perhaps eat a lot of turkey and pumpkin pie.)

And you know, being wrong doesn’t bother me. It’s being wrong repeatedly that I find troubling. That’s something I’ve written about before, and the problem just seems to be getting worse.

Here’s what I think is going on: About a week or so before Thanksgiving, every city editor reflexively orders up a Thanksgiving travel story. The assignment often goes to a low-level general assignment reporter who is handed a stack of press releases predicting the end of the world.

This journalist, who, God bless ‘em, doesn’t know any better, then strings together a story based on alarmist projections. Headlines like, “Record numbers of travelers hit the road!” and “Lines predicted to be longest ever!” make great front-page fodder.

Of course, it’s a reporter’s job to be skeptical. But when they don’t understand the travel industry, and are probably just thinking, “How can I get this story done so that I can go home for the holiday?” you end up with something that is inevitably half-baked.

And how about those press releases themselves, that predict the end of civilization as we know it? They’re completely irresponsible, of course, but then again, they aren’t journalism. They’re meant to promote a product like a travel site or club, and do you really think a headline like, “Thanksgiving travel could be just fine” is going to get picked up?

What’s the solution? I don’t have one.

If you can think of a better way of handling this story, please send me a note or post a comment.

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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