A New Look at the Aquarium

Saturday, July 17, 2010

San Francisco’s only waterfront aquarium is hosting our July 17 meeting. Aquarium of the Bay, located at Pier 39, has just completed its transition to a nonprofit nature center, bringing a renewed focus on the marine animals that live in San Francisco Bay.

Here sharks, rays and 20,000 other animals swim in what is now the city’s largest environmental, nonprofit non-government organization (NGO) on the waterfront. Its crystal clear tunnels bring visitors face-to-fin with animals ranging from the

mighty sevengill shark (San Francisco Bay’s largest predator, at lengths up to 14-feet long and weighing more than 400 pounds) to the colorful garibaldi (the California State Marine Fish) to gracefully-gliding jellies. Here you can watch the giant pacific octopus open a jar to get its food, or your can touch leopard sharks and bat rays. A speaker will tell us all about the aquarium’s new focus and take us on a tour. More information will come in your email box.

For more information:
Contact: Sandy Sims
Phone: (408) 269-8440
Email: sansims@aol.com

– Sandy Sims
BATW Program Coordinator

Saturday, August 21, 2010, 10:00 a.m.

Having traveled from the mysterious souks of Damascus and ancient “Dead Cities” of Northern Syria to the hidden cliff city of Jordan’s Petra to the chic nightlife and galleries of Beirut (often called “The Paris of the Middle East”) the award-winning writer and photographer team of Diane LeBow and John Montgomery will share tales and images from their recent month-long pilgrimage among these crossroads of some of our earliest civilizations. Diane and John debunk prevalent myths about this region and tell about exploring backroads and byways and enjoying the hospitality, safety and comfort of travel in this region, which is known as The Levant. Diane is the President of the Bay Area Travel Writers, and John is an Advisory Board member of the American Society of Media Photographers. Venue information to come.

For more information:
Contact: Sandy Sims
Phone: (408) 269-8440
Email: sansims@aol.com

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Panelists: Judy Wylie, Georgia Hesse and Bill Fink.

We’ll be meeting at the Women’s Building in the Mission District of San Francisco.  More information to come.

For more information:
Contact: Sandy Sims
Phone: (408) 269-8440
Email: sansims@aol.com

BATW's Ethics & Etiquette panel: (from left) Edward Hasbrouck, David Page, Catherine Boire, Tom Wilmer and Erin Van Reenen (host) (photo © John Montgomery)

BATW members were treated to a lively presentation on Saturday, June 19, at the Noe Valley branch of the San Francisco Public Library. The topic: The Ethics & Etiquette of Travel Writing—that is, an examination of what’s involved from an ethical standpoint when it comes to travel-writer comps, press trips, and freebies. The panel was conceived, coordinated and moderated by BATW Program Committee member Erin Van Rheenen.

Although billed as a discussion, the event was a bit more idiosyncratic. Each of the four panelists — David Page, Edward Hasbrouck, Catherine Boire and Tom Wilmer — spoke about the “Ethics & Etiquette” from a personal standpoint. Questions were taken from the audience.

Van Rheenen introduced the program by reading an excerpt from a piece Georgia Hesse wrote for the occasion. Hesse, founder of the San Francisco Examiner’s Travel section and an internationally-recognized travel writer/editor, offered a historical perspective on ethical issues involving press trips.

Edward Hasbrouck, who is on the board of the National Writers’ Union and who has been involved in formal discussions on this topic, set up the purpose of the meeting.  He pointed out that the reason issues about ethics and gift-disclosure have come up is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is supposed to protect consumers, has created new guidelines for openness regarding writers’ acceptance of freebies, discounts, etc.  He pointed out that the “FTC was gutted during the Reagan Admnistration” and that an overhaul of out-of-date regulations (or lack thereof) is long overdue.  New appointees on the FTC are working to encourage “truth in advertising” – and truth about hidden advertising.

In particular, the rapid expansion of the blogging world has brought about concerns regarding payola, which is defined by dictionary.com as “a secret or private payment in return for the promotion of a product, service, etc., through the abuse of one’s position, influence, or facilities.”

In October, 2009, the FTC announced its truth-in-(hidden)-advertising guidelines.  However, the FTC was mainly talking about current laws and trying to “scare people straight” regarding disclosure of who gave them what in exchange for positive mention in a story.  Edward pointed out that the FTC is taking a good approach in saying, “Get your act together on your own initiative.”

The original focus of the FTC’s new approach was not, Edward said, travel writers, but now it is trying to straighten out that area, too.  Two areas of importance are (1) endorsement (the writer telling the reader to do or buy something) and (2) disclosure of material connections that the reader would not expect or know about.

Edward said travel writers have two choices for dealing with these issues – that is, two questions to ask themselves:

1.     “What do I have to do to comply with the guidelines?”

His initial answer was: almost nothing.  The FTC is directing its ire primarily at advertisers.  The FTC wants the sponsor to tell the writer to tell the reader that he/she was sponsored (that is, given a comp, media-rate discount, press trip, etc.).  Edward thinks this is the wrong approach and suggests instead that writers answer his second question:

2.    “What is driving these regulation changes?  Are these valid concerns?”

The concerns relate to shilling – that is, to a writer presenting a company’s point-of-view in exchange for some kind of compensation but that writer not disclosing to the reader that she/he received that compensation.  In the case of print writers, the writer usually deals with an editor and/or publisher so there can be some distance and a filter between the writer and the final published story.  The problem is bigger regarding bloggers because bloggers are not only the writers on their own sites, they are also the publishers of their own site and, therefore, are also the sites’ advertising salespersons.  That means there is no distance between the writer and the generator of website revenue.  Therefore a blog can easily and secretly become an “infomercial” (“informative” commercial) or an “advertorial” (advertising masquerading as an editorial).

Writers will win greater credibility, Edward said, if they are honest and up-front with their readers – that is, if they disclose to readers all discounts, gifts, comps, freebies, etc., that they receive relating to their articles.

This honesty has to come from publicists and marketers as well as writers, Edward said.  All subsidies (including media rates that are below fair-market value) as well as freebies should be disclosed.  Readers cannot detect payola on their own, and they are upset if they discover they’ve been duped.  In order to further their own careers, writers need to do all they can to maintain their credibility with readers and that means disclosing all gifts.

(For more information, links that Edward provided are at the bottom of this post and at http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001877.html.)

David Page’s credits include the Discovery Channel, Men’s Journal, and the New York Times. He talked about conflicting ethical views within travel journalism. The official policy at the New York Times is to never accept a story by anyone who has been on a press trip at any time (read this section of the NYT contract). However, many other publications have no policy regarding press trips. [Suzie notes that many BATW members have been on press trips with editors from major publications.]

Page noted that it’s almost impossible to write a guidebook without taking at least an occasional freebie. When writing Yosemite & the Southern Sierra Nevada: A Complete Guide (Countryman Press), he found the “no freebie” thing easy to do with hole-in-the-wall lodgings and inexpensive eateries; impossible to do, on his budget, when matters went upscale. So what does a writer do? As he wrote in an article entitled “Do Freebies Undermine Honesty in Travel Writing,” “Do you just wander around the hallways of the five-star hotel and maybe sit on the bed? …Or—what the hell, in the interest of actual experiential travel—do you accept a free night?”

Of course you do. Realizing that “my responsibility is to the story and reader,” Page wrote honestly…and the guidebook ended up winning a 2009 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award.

Throughout his presentation Page emphasized that honesty in writing—as opposed to offering up boiler-plate or fluff—is what wins readers over. And while honesty may at times be difficult for hotel, restaurant, and attraction owners to swallow, in the end most will appreciate being shown the error of their ways. It was thus fitting that Page ended his presentation with these simple words addressed to travel journalists and readers alike: “Write like a shill, they’re gone. Write honestly, they stay.”

[You’ll find a few links on the topic of travel-writer ethics recommended by David Page at the bottom of this post.]

BATW Associate member Catherine Boire spoke offered a perspective from “the other side.” Catherine joined BATW in 1997, shortly after moving to the Bay Area. That same year she put together BATW’s first-ever press trip. By coincidence the destination—the Napa Valley town of Calistoga—had never before hosted a press trip. While BATW members responded with enthusiasm to the idea of a visit to Calistoga (go figure!), the town’s restaurant, hotel, and attraction owners were befuddled by the new idea of giving away free lodging, meals, etc. Would it really be worth it? Catherine convinced them to take a chance, assuring them that good publicity would result. As it turned out, the trip was a success on all fronts. Everyone had a great time, no embarrassing gaffes occurred, and Catherine received many clips from the attendees.

But then comes the flip side. Not long ago a writer (not a BATW member) asked Catherine to get him a three-day comp at a high-end “camp” in the Sierra, saying that the story would appear in a major publication. This amp does not ordinarily give comps—open only three months each year, the camp has an extremely narrow window in which to make a profit. But in the end Catherine did mange to wrest permission for the three-night comp. The result? The writer never filed the story, and Catherine was left to deal with an extremely disgruntled camp manager.

Nonetheless, Catherine believes that press trips and comps are important, allowing journalists a way to visit an area or property. She stressed that it’s important to send clips of articles written from press trips to the PR consultant (she mentioned her delight when Don & Ann Jackson recently sent her a clip that—though written this year—resulted from a press trip of 15 years ago). Another tip: you’ll have more success if you make requests for help, comps, etc., through the PR consultant rather than going directly to a hotel or other manager.

BATW Board member Tom Wilmer has been on so many press trips in 25+ years as a travel writer that he long ago lost count. A bit of a raconteur, he made it clear that, in his view, press trips are vital to a hard-working travel writer because they provide opportunity, insight, ideas, knowledge and much more. As one example: Wilmer won a national Australian writing award for an article that resulted from a press trip.

But there can be a dark side, Wilmer points out, when writers feel that they must produce “glowing” or “fluffy” articles to repay a sponsor’s largesse. “If you feel beholden—if you feel as if you’re being a whore—get over it,” he said. “And get over it quick. You have a far bigger responsibility to your reader. And if the PR people have a problem? Well, too bad!”

– Suzie Rodriguez
(covering introduction, David Page, Catherine Boire and Tom Wilmer)
– April Orcutt
BATW Website Editor (covering Edward Hasbrouck)

Resources from David Page:

http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-on-writing/do-travel-and-leisure-style-no-freebies-policies-undermine-honesty-in-travel-writing/

A relevant section of the NYT contract: http://www.nytco.com/press/ethics.html#C

Gawker publishes a reminder memo from NYT (March 2010):
http://gawker.com/5493614/new-york-times-reminds-freelancers-not-to-accept-free-things-in-all-caps

David Foster Wallace’s “Shipping Out: On the (nearly lethal) comforts of a luxury cruise”:
http://www.harpers.org/media/pdf/dfw/HarpersMagazine-1996-01-0007859.pdf

Tom Gates’ Notes from Grand Hotel Del Mar (Matador):
http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/notes-from-the-grand-del-mar-hotel-san-diego/

Resources from Edward Hasbrouck:

FTC guidelines on endorsements, testimonials, and advertising (FTC press release, 5 October 2009):
http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

FTC guidelines (text of the guidelines)
http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf

FTC guidelines (complete Federal Register notice with additional FTC commentary and discussion)
http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endorsementguidesfnnotice.pdf

Edward Hasbrouck’s initial analysis and commentary on the FTC guidelines (23 October 2009)
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001756.html

Edward Hasbrouck’s  follow-up commentary and links to responses to the FTC guidelines (12 November 2009)
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001775.html

Analysis of first report of FTC investigation under the new guidelines (by Susan Getgood, co-founder of “Blog With Integrity” and author of the forthcoming Professional Blogging for Dummies book, for which she interviewed me as one of her case studies)
http://getgood.com/roadmaps/2010/04/29/thoughts-on-ftc-and-ann-taylor-loft/

Twitter hashtag for discussion of travel writing ethics: #twethics

Blog With Integrity (Twitter @BlogIntegrity)
http://www.blogwithintegrity.com/

Travel Bloggers Exchange (webcast panels including Mary Engle of the FTC and Susan Getgood of BlogWithIntegrity on “Travel Writing Ethics – Freebies and Disclosures”, Sunday, 27 June 2010, 8-8:45 a.m. PDT; Twitter #tbex10)
http://www.travelblogexchange.com/profiles/blogs/tbex-10-speakers-amp-schedule

The Travel Bloggers Show (sponsored by the American Society of Travel Agents in conjunction with the ASTA trade show for travel agents and travel suppliers, Orlando, FL, September 11-14 2010; workshops with Edward Hasbrouck for travel bloggers on “Working with travel marketers and p.r. agencies” and for travel agencies, suppliers, and p.r. agencies on “How to work with travel bloggers”; Twitter @trvlbloggershow)
http://www.thetradeshow.org/thetravelbloggershow.cfm

Edward Hasbrouck’s Disclosures & Disclaimers page
http://hasbrouck.org/disclosures.html

Edward Hasbrouck’s How to Pitch Me page
http://hasbrouck.org/pitch.html

May 15, 2010, at 10 a.m.

San Francisco

Morton Beebe is coordinating a panel of photographers, including  Bob Holmes, Jeff Pflueger and David Sanger, who will talk about photography for writers and photographers.  This will take place in San Francisco.

Check back here on the website and in your email for more information later.

– Sandy Sims
BATW Program Chair

(photo courtesy of ClipartPal)

Smartphones and the Future of Photo Publishing

Tuesday, April 13, 7 – 9 p.m.
Social hour begins at 6 p.m.

If you thought the personal computer revolution of the 1980s and the Internet revolution of the 1990s were big, well, they were. But a new revolution merging the best features of personal computing, instant anywhere, anytime communication, and carry-everywhere portability promises to dwarf them both.

Smartphones, those amazing handheld devices that offer the Internet in your pocket, are the fastest growing segment in both computing and communications. With yearly unit sales in the hundreds of millions, and total worldwide sales estimated in the billions within a few years, these ubiquitous devices and associated applications and services are the hottest topic in the technology and publishing worlds.

Join us on Tuesday, April 13th, as we explore the exciting opportunities for photographers presented by platforms such as the Apple iPhone, Google Android, Palm webOS, and other emerging environments. You’ll learn how these platforms compare, the state of the market for image and content developers, and how to position yourself to take advantage of this disruptive media shift. You’ll also get insight into what it takes to publish your images and content on these mobile platforms from leading practitioners in the field.

Some in the industry have described the emergence of smartphones as the REAL personal computer revolution and the ultimate new media. Many believe that smartphones present the disruptive opportunity of a generation. But almost everyone agrees that the market is simply too large to ignore.

So join us on Tuesday, April 13th and judge for yourself as we present Smartphones and the Future of Photo Publishing.

Speakers:

Moderator: John Jerney

John is a freelance travel writer and photographer whose writing and images have appeared in publications in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. John is also president of mobilis.net, a Silicon Valley-based online community and social network for mobile application developers (set to launch in early March). For a dozen years, John served as the principal technology columnist for The Daily Yomiuri, the English language edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun, the world’s largest circulation daily newspaper. John serves on the board of ASMP Northern California, and is the current events coordinator for the chapter.

Panelists:

Lee Foster

Lee is a veteran, diversified travel photographer and writer who, in 2009, became one of the first travel photojournalists with an application in the Apple iTunes App Store. Lee’s application, San Francisco Photography Guide, helps users create and collect their own postcard-perfect photos and memories of San Francisco (www.sutromedia.com/apps/sfphotoguide). As a vanguard of the new media, Lee will share his insights and experience on what it takes to publish a photo and travel application on the iPhone, and outline a series of practical steps that you can follow to join this exciting media revolution. Visit www.fostertravel.com to see more of Lee’s work.

Kevin Collins and Tobin Fisher

As founding partners of Sutro Media, Kevin and Tobin are creators of an application software engine that streamlines the publication of photo and travel guide applications for the iPhone. They are also authors of the travel application, San Francisco Exploration Guide. Kevin and Tobin will offer their insights into the smartphone and mobile application revolution, specifically as it relates to photography and publishing. The pair will also describe the vision behind Sutro Media, and explain how they see the future of mobile media developing. For more information, see www.sutromedia.com.

Kim Grant

Kim is a travel guide book author, photographer, print acquisitions editor, and author of her own highly-successful iPhone application, Boston Essentials Guide (www.sutromedia.com/apps/boston-essential). As acquisitions editor for Sutro Media, Kim is ideally positioned to spot emerging trends in the mobile publishing marketplace. If you have a big idea for the small screen, Kim will be on hand to offer feedback and help you channel your efforts to maximize results. You can see Kim’s travel journalism efforts at www.kimgrant.com.

Additional panelists: TBD

Cost:
Free to BATW and ASMP members
Non-members: $10
Students: $5

Venue:
Blue Sky Rental Studios
2325 Third St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.626.7232
www.blueskysf.com

Gaia Hotel and Spa in Napa hosts our April 17 meeting, which will be a panel of experts discussing the power of travel writers to influence travelers and tourists in becoming aware of cultures and making responsible choices for destinations, lodgings, activities and more.

More information to come.

– Sandy Sims
BATW Programs & Events Chair

March 20 at 10 a.m.

Books Inc. at Opera Plaza in San Francisco

Marketing is essential for any writer in this day and age; but even more so for travel writers. Even if you don’t have a book or product to sell, you can still use branding to promote your expertise to editors so they will come to you with assignments. Candy Harrington will talk about how to establish yourself as an expert and then promote yourself in print, on the web and even on radio. Learn the essential steps of finding your niche, building your platform and establishing your brand, and how this can help you beef up your bottom line. Candy says she did it and so can we.

Known as the guru of accessible travel, Candy Harrington has covered this niche exclusively for the past 15 years. She’s the founding editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of several accessible travel titles, including the classic, Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Candy’s work can also be found in disability-related magazines, mainstream publications and websites. Tape measure in hand, Candy hits the road often, in search of new accessible travel options. She also blogs regularly about accessible travel news, resources and industry updates on her Barrier Free Travels blog.

Location: Books Inc. Opera Plaza in San Francisco

For more information:
Contact: Sandy Sims
(408) 269-8440
sansims@aol.com

San Franccisco Bay Area Travel Writers and Photographers

our small blue planet Earth

At last the suspense will be over as BATW unveils the winners of 2010 BATW Travel Writing & Photography Awards and 2010 Planet Earth Awards.

Karen Misuraca says:

Don’t Miss the February Awards Program at Book Passage

The February 20 meeting (at Book Passage in Corte Madera) will be our presentation ceremonies for 2010 BATW Best Writing & Photography awards, 2010 Planet Earth awards, and Rebecca Bruns award. Guests are welcome, coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 9:30 a.m., and the many winners and their prizes will be announced.

There is no limit to the number of guests, but please RSVP online. Click for directions to Book Passage (you can get there by bus).

Click here to get to Google Maps.

When the date gets closer, please RSVP online via www.batw.org.

Book Passage bookstore

Jan. 16 at 10 a.m.

Members Only

Cavallo Point and the Golden Gate Bridge (photo © Michal Venera & Cavallo Point)

While members enjoy the beautiful Cavallo Point setting, Roy Stearns, Deputy Director of Communications for California Department of Parks & Recreation, will talk about current state of California State Parks.  Jerry Emory of the California State Parks Foundation will also give a brief talk to compliment Roy’s talk.

Our Topic: The State of State Parks

Roy Stearns, Deputy Director for Communications for California State Parks, will talk about California Parks – the largest, most diverse park system in the country, with gems of natural resources and historic places (and a great subject for stories). By the time we meet in January, Roy may be able to enlighten us about the governor’s budget for California parks.

Our Host

It’s fitting that we will be meeting at the beautiful Cavallo Point – formerly Fort Baker, which was owned by the Army and was headquarters for 91st Infantry. Cavallo is now a national park and luxury hotel. Recently named as one of ten new American Landmarks by Travel & Leisure magazine, Cavallo Point is also home to Michelin star Murray Circle restaurant, Farley Bar, the Cooking School and Healing Arts Center & Spa.

Our Speaker

Roy Stearns was appointed to the position of Deputy Director for Communications, California State Parks, in May, 2000, by Governor Gray Davis. He was reappointed to the position by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in April 2004.

Roy knows about finding and telling stories. He grew up in the newspaper business, working in the two weekly newspapers owned by his father. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism.

During his television career, Roy worked for KSBW-TV in Salinas, California, as a reporter, producer, assignment editor, news director and anchorman. At KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, he worked as a senior correspondent, consistently assigned to major stories. He served as chief environmental reporter, chief military reporter, and as a State Capitol correspondent covering the California Legislature, the governor and state government. He’s traveled to more than 10 foreign countries to report stories connected to California, including Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, war in Central America, conditions in Russia and humanitarian efforts in Africa. In addition to all this, Roy served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, completing both active and reserve duty assignments, attaining the rank of Colonel.

Members Only — maximum of 50 members.  Please RSVP using our online RSVP system.  Go to www.BATW.org, click on “Member Log-in.” When the next window comes up, click on “login.” Type in your username and password there. Then click on EVENT LIST, then click on the Jan. 16 event. Finally, scroll to the bottom of the page and click where it says Register for this event: “Jan. 2010 RSVP.”

Click here for a Google Map to the Cavallo Point hotel.

The Frank House at Cavallo Point (photo © Kodiak Greenwood & Cavallo Point)

– Sandy Sims
BATW Program Chair