BootsnAll Travel Community

Seeing as I've managed to finagle my way into getting an editor interested in publishing some of my work while I'm travelling, I'm posed with one of those damn ethical dilemmas.

What do you think of pulling the old "I'm a travel writer" card while on the road in order to open a few doors? To make the issue even more gray, what if you have no intention of writing about the place you're using the line?

Now I don't think I would do this at some small guesthome, but if we really wanted a nice night out and that 5 star hotel was calling, I'm not sure I'd feel too bad about it. After staying, maybe I would be inspired to write about it, but I'm assuming I'm not for this question.

I already know I'm a bad person deep down, so don't worry about offending me with your answers.

Well, well, well.. I guess you can state that while travelling you will be writing a few articles for XYZ magazine/paper/whatever. Howeever, do not promise anything, state upfront that the hotel/restaurant may or may not find a say in the final published article. I know of a few writers who actually wangle things for free, such as a free seven course dinner, a free ayurvedic massage and so on, just because they "promise" a coverage. The word "promise" should be avoided. A few ayurvedic spas in Kerala are now extremely wary of such writers. One even mentioned to me that they had representatives of LP come to them.. (haha.. i am sure they were fogeys) Hope this helps.

promise of coverage = loss of credibility...but pulling the other line isn't bad, you may be inspired to write about it
way to go on getting an editor!
Court

"...I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." Robert Louis Stevenson

Ethics are so intensely personal, I don't think anyone can tell you if it's right or wrong. If it doesn't bother you then go for it. But really, I'd say it's bothering you at least a little else you wouldn't have asked. Sort of an "if you have to ask, you KNOW it's wrong" kind of thing.

Personally, I would consider it to be dishonest, but I'm a freakishly honest person so don't listen to me.

_____________________________
Cleverly Disguised as a Responsible Adult.

I have situation here in Bali where I write about people, places and businesses everyday. If I am writing about a particular restaurant I go there annonymously and form and opinion, once that opinion is formed and I think the place is worth talking about I arrange a meeting with the owner / manager. I tell them I am writing about their place but its always up to me what I write and they do not get to approve it before it goes up.

Sometimes I get free food/ drinks, sometimes not. Anyway that shouldn't interfere with my article, it just gives me more of a chance to sample what's going on there.

Personally I think it depends on how you phrase your assignment. If you say you are writing a travel article and want to look around that's one thing, but if you go in saying you are doing a review then they should get a review.

Nick O'Neill
http://www.BaliBlog.com
BootsnAll's guide to Bali

I guess I was actually asking in more of a conversation starter sense. While I do hope to do some writing while traveling, it's not really a huge focus for me at this point. This ethics question would have never occurred to me if I hadn't actually decided to line an editor up in advance.

I think I would avoid mentioning that I was a travel writer for the most part in order to get a more genuine impression on the subject. Where I could see myself wanting to use it, is not so much in a sense of wanting to get something free as much as to hold it over some bureaucrat who suddenly doesn't have the room we reserved or transportation that had been paid for. Even then I think it would be a last resort for the truly obnoxious.

You never know when and where inspiration may strike. Even though you might not intend to write about a certain place, you may stumble across something intriguing. I agree with the previous poster, though... don't promise what you can't make good on.

Everett