Source: World Hum
Interview With Charles Runnette: Confessions of a Travel Writer
Whats it like to be a travel writer? Its a question often asked of travel writers, but rarely do they get a chance to answer it on television. Tonight five travel writers will. The premiere of Confessions of a Travel Writer airs on the Travel Channel at 9 p.m., with host Charles Runnette and four other writersJimmy Im, Andrew Evans, Chantal Martineau and Shira Lazartraveling to Chile on a week-long assignment. Confessions follows the group on a press trip that spans from Santiago to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, chronicling the personal relationships among the writers as well as the legwork involved in reporting stories. I asked Runnette via email about the origins of the show, his favorite travel writers and how well he thinks the show represents travel writers.
Q: How did Confessions of a Travel Writer come about?
A: It came about in the last year, with me backhandedly pitching it to a production company out here in Los Angeles, Authentic Entertainment. I used to work in TV at ABC News in New York making documentaries for the Discovery Channel and Travel Channel (Secrets of Times Square from 2001 is one of mine) and had often tried my hand at selling shows. I got very close at one point to selling a series about a bounty hunter, Duane the Dog Chapman, through CBS News, but they chickened out when I told them a little about his nutty family and legal issues. Anyway, I met with Authentic, pitched them a few things, then mentioned that I was just coming back from a trip to Israel. They asked me how it was. I snickered and told them some stories about how crazy it wasparticularly the bit where the Mossad agents strip searched and escorted me on the plane first at JFK for being a little flippant. The answer that seemed to send them over the edge was when they asked me about the multiple Dubai stamps in my passport. I said, Im a travel writer, Ive reported from Dubai. Then they asked if I had friends there, and I said, Define friendship. And that was it. Open your bags, take off all your clothes, were searching you from head to toe.
A: It came about in the last year, with me backhandedly pitching it to a production company out here in Los Angeles, Authentic Entertainment. I used to work in TV at ABC News in New York making documentaries for the Discovery Channel and Travel Channel (Secrets of Times Square from 2001 is one of mine) and had often tried my hand at selling shows. I got very close at one point to selling a series about a bounty hunter, Duane the Dog Chapman, through CBS News, but they chickened out when I told them a little about his nutty family and legal issues. Anyway, I met with Authentic, pitched them a few things, then mentioned that I was just coming back from a trip to Israel. They asked me how it was. I snickered and told them some stories about how crazy it wasparticularly the bit where the Mossad agents strip searched and escorted me on the plane first at JFK for being a little flippant. The answer that seemed to send them over the edge was when they asked me about the multiple Dubai stamps in my passport. I said, Im a travel writer, Ive reported from Dubai. Then they asked if I had friends there, and I said, Define friendship. And that was it. Open your bags, take off all your clothes, were searching you from head to toe.
Q: Travel writing seems like it could be a difficult enterprise to convey on TV. How well do you think the show represents travel writers and travel writing?
A: Any job is difficult to summarize in 43 minutes on TV, and, frankly, this show only scratches the surface of what it takes to be a travel writer. The funny thing about this job is that when you tell anyone youre a travel writer, nine times out of 10 the first thing out of their mouth is: Thats my dream job. I would say this show lays waste to that popular myth. Yes, its better than many jobs, but after watching this show viewers will understand the down side of travel writing. Dealing with morons, bad pay, long days and nights. And, frankly, it can be lonely at times. Its not all sipping Cristal in St. Tropez or horseback riding in Mongolia.
A: Any job is difficult to summarize in 43 minutes on TV, and, frankly, this show only scratches the surface of what it takes to be a travel writer. The funny thing about this job is that when you tell anyone youre a travel writer, nine times out of 10 the first thing out of their mouth is: Thats my dream job. I would say this show lays waste to that popular myth. Yes, its better than many jobs, but after watching this show viewers will understand the down side of travel writing. Dealing with morons, bad pay, long days and nights. And, frankly, it can be lonely at times. Its not all sipping Cristal in St. Tropez or horseback riding in Mongolia.
Q: What was it like having a camera follow you around while you were reporting your stories?
A: The camera part was annoying at first, but as anyone who sees the show will quickly gather, I dont have a great filter. I was trying to hold back a bit, but couldnt manage. I forgot about the cameras pretty quickly and started acting like my very frank (slightly Tourettes-y) self, pretty quickly. There are those who call me harsh. I think Im opinionated. I have done this long enoughfrom Fodors Guides to New York Times articlesto know the difference between something thats empirically bad and something thats subjectively bad. And when somethings just plain bad, I say so. My allegiance is to the people who read my articles, not to the publicists or managers of restaurants. I try not to be rude or harsh, but if I am asked my opinion, I give it. And its not always super welcome by some.
A: The camera part was annoying at first, but as anyone who sees the show will quickly gather, I dont have a great filter. I was trying to hold back a bit, but couldnt manage. I forgot about the cameras pretty quickly and started acting like my very frank (slightly Tourettes-y) self, pretty quickly. There are those who call me harsh. I think Im opinionated. I have done this long enoughfrom Fodors Guides to New York Times articlesto know the difference between something thats empirically bad and something thats subjectively bad. And when somethings just plain bad, I say so. My allegiance is to the people who read my articles, not to the publicists or managers of restaurants. I try not to be rude or harsh, but if I am asked my opinion, I give it. And its not always super welcome by some.
Q: What was your favorite part of doing the show?
A: Getting the opportunity to encourage more people to be adventurous with their travel choices. I struggle with thinking this job is somehow important to the planet, and what I keep coming back to is this firm belief that people who really travel and experience what its like to be in another part of the world come back to their regular lives forever changed. I love the idea that I could be a part of that choice for some family to skip Disney World one year and go somewhere interesting.
A: Getting the opportunity to encourage more people to be adventurous with their travel choices. I struggle with thinking this job is somehow important to the planet, and what I keep coming back to is this firm belief that people who really travel and experience what its like to be in another part of the world come back to their regular lives forever changed. I love the idea that I could be a part of that choice for some family to skip Disney World one year and go somewhere interesting.
Q: Who are some of your favorite travel writers?
A: My favorite living travel writers are probably Pico Iyer and Jan Morris. Dead, Marco Polo. Not because the writing was so beautiful, but that adventure of his is pretty hard to beat.
A: My favorite living travel writers are probably Pico Iyer and Jan Morris. Dead, Marco Polo. Not because the writing was so beautiful, but that adventure of his is pretty hard to beat.
