Marc d'Entremont
An evocative article, but I take exception to your notion that travel writing has been debased in recent times. As a travel writer in my 7th decade of life I've read too many badly written articles yet have known many travel writers over the decades who, despite being on FAM trips, have written the truth. You have and its published. The past was better is always seductive, yet in 2 issues of the iconic Travel magazine that I own 04/1930 & 10/1931 you'll discover some of the most racist and meaningless articles I've ever read. The blog world has simply given a wider voice to the lowest common denominator, but that does not negate the reality that there are still publishers who want good and honest travel writing. A FAM trip introduces a writer, and if theyre good, they'll return on their own dime to interview the people, explore deeper and find the stories. That has always been the nature of the business.
I disagree Ellen. A FAM trip is exactly that the PR people introduce one to the region/destination. The writer's individual interests are unimportant. That is what separates the "divas" from the writers. There's always something interesting to write about as Frank discovered and I don't think it's sad, it's true. If a writer is serious, they return either on their own dime or by arranging an individual trip with the PR people. Of course in the first place, I'd suggest that most writers arrange individual trips in the first place, but still be open to whatever the PR person wants to show them. A narrowly focused travel writer is the product of the blog world.