Month: September 2021

FAQs- Social Media and Journalism

How has social media changed the travel industry in the last few years?

Luckily, I have a lot of connections when it comes to travel experts and social media influencers, so many were willing to help me out and provide some insight to these questions. Marika Flatt, travel editor for Texas Lifestyle Magazine helped  answer this question through her personal experience. “When we are invited to attend a press trip, it is definitely expected that we will be posting content on our social media platforms. In addition, when I post photos on my personal Facebook page, sometimes I get more interest in the destination that I do through my articles,” Flatt said.

Is social media changing travel for better or worse?

This question is really matter of opinion. From conducting multiple interviews from the points-of-views of the travel expert and the Instagram traveler, I have found that it is really a bit of both– better and worse. Flatt has been in the industry for years, and she believes it is completely better. “Absolutely, 100% it is helpful for the travel and tourism industry. So many travelers initially find out about a destination by way of seeing it on someone’s social media platform. Images are key for travel and tourism these days, and there’s no better way to get those images out there than through Instagram and Facebook,” she said.

However, issues tend to arise with social media as well. Instagram influencer Carrie Rosenbalm explained, “I think it can be harmful when considering popular international destinations. Instagram worthy locations, if you will, have often become so popular that you find yourself waiting in long lines to snap a picture and you’re left with very little time to truly “experience” the location,” illustrating how social media can alter our ability to live in the moment.

How can travel experts and social media influencers work together in the future? 

“Working with influencers can be an advantageous partnership that provides impactful and organic word of mouth type marketing. Travel influencers with an engaged audience have built trust with their followers. That trust allows them to see how they themselves could enjoy the experience that’s being shared,” Rosenbalm explained.

From my interviews and research I have gathered that, like most things, social media has an extensive list of pros and cons when it comes to the travel industry.

How social media is changing the game for the travel industry

For better or worse, social media is changing the game for the travel industry.

As any modern day Instagram-scroller knows, social media is constantly showing us beautiful images of places we’ve never been. Ads for travel businesses are always popping up on the feed. On the other hand, influencers jetting off to new locations is also a predominant theme in the algorithm.

Has social media increased people’s wanderlust and helped the travel industry, or has it made people feel as if they don’t need to get out there because they can easily see all the views from their phone?

To gain some insight on the ways social media is changing the travel industry, it is important to look at it from two different perspectives; first, that of the travel expert. This person could be a travel agent, a journalist or anyone who is considered to have expertise in travel. Their main medium is not social media, though they may partake in it.

Second, it is important to see the side of the Instagram travel influencer, whose main medium is social media. They promote travel and typically get invited, and occasionally paid, by travel companies to promote a city or hotel to their followers.

Jenny Hart, a travel journalist who has written for publications such as Travel + Leisure, offered her insights on ways social media is helping but also harming the travel industry. “Destinations that were once seen as unobtainable for many people are now much easier to access right at their fingertips,” she said.

But, as many social media users know, not everything is as picture-perfect as it seems. Hart explained that “sometimes there is an attitude of ‘If you didn’t share your pictures, were you even there?'”

“A lot of the most beautiful traveling images you see are heavily edited. Maybe it was really crowded and they had to edit people out,” Hart said.

Speaking from positive personal experience, Hart helped illustrate the growing importance of social media for a travel journalist like herself. “I’m certainly not a social media influencer in any respect, but having a social media presence has become a really important part of my personal brand,” she said.

“I used to be strictly a travel writer, but now I do social media marketing as well, with different hotels and tour operators as clients,” Hart said, proving that travel writers have also adapted to the world of social media.

Gaining a different point of view from Shadoe Lee (@keepaustinyoung), Instagram travel influencer, she explained that Instagram has allowed her to “share my insights of local places and places I have explored with others, while also allowing me to partner with tourism boards and hotels.”

When asked about whether social media is helping or harming the travel industry, she replied: “This is a double-edged sword. Overall yes, social media helps spread the word and awareness about certain spots. But on the other hand, some places that are deemed “Instagramable” are great places to visit, but are over crowded because of the social media fame and therefore not as fun,” she said, voicing similar concerns as journalist Hart.

Dre Fox (@timeofdre), a Social Media Coach, also offered her insights. “I think travel blogging tends to romanticize travel (ie dresses on top of mountains) but honestly, is that so bad? I view it as artistic expression and while it might be unrealistic, photos don’t always have to be realistic,” she said.

However, there is also cons, she explained. “I do think there is a problem when a place is misrepresented. If you’re editing things to look better, it can create issues with people that go there and realize it looks totally different.”

Looking towards the future of social media and travel’s relationship, Fox voices some ideas she would like to see come into play. “I’d love to see cities doing longer term partnerships with influencers so they can return throughout the year and ‘travel deeper’ within the area to paint the picture.”

Having these perspectives helps us see that social media is here– regardless of what our opinions may be about it. Instead of looking at it as an obstacle to overcome, those in the travel industry can look at it as a tool to further their success and build more relationships.

How Austin stays sustainable: food, fashion and fresh air

By: Gracie Watt

The city of Austin has gained a reputation over the years of being an environmentally-conscious, “green” city. But do they live up to their tree-hugging reputation?

Three ways in which locals keep Austin sustainable are through shopping at vintage stores, eating vegan and local, and getting active outside.

Garment is a vintage store located on South Lamar Blvd. People can bring in their vintage items to exchange, but the store also sources clothing from events and sales in different cities.
These boots are an example of the kind of gems that one can find at Garment. The store specializes in styles from the 70s to the early 2000s. When it comes to personal preference, though, store manager Maegen Villarreal gravitates towards a 90s look. “We really like fun patterns, designs and colors. We like to find pieces that bring a lot of life into the store,” Villarreal said.
Villarreal poses with one of her favorite pieces in the store, a vintage Coco Chanel jacket. “Everything comes back into style eventually. Shopping sustainably is a really good way to reduce your waste. We go through so much clothing in our lives as we grow and styles change, so it’s better to find quality over quantity,” the conscious store manager explained.
Our next stop is Conscious Cravings, a locally-owned, vegan food truck located nearby. Highlights of their menu include the Cacao Banana smoothie (pictured), the Spicy Chickpea wrap, the Quinoa salad and more.
“It’s good to have all kinds of food options in a diverse community. Texas is famous for their barbecue, but in the past 5 years, Austin has become a vegan hotspot of the south,” vegan chef Hah a Hall said. He also advised that when one is attempting to eat more consciously, it’s important to look out for processed foods, GMOs, sugar and acidic foods.
Mount Bonnell towers above the Colorado River, and provides ample views of Austin’s rolling hills and impressive real estate. The hill rises 775 ft above sea level, and is the highest point in Austin, therefore a popular place among tourists and locals to explore and hike.
“It’s important to get outside because it helps you connect to the natural energy that’s around you and inside of you,” park-goer Leslie Baker said. Baker and her friends are gathered for a picnic at Mount Bonnell to celebrate her engagement.
Mount Bonnell is a great place for sightseeing and watching the sunset from an elevated area in Austin.

Test Photo Story

Bowl of Apples
How do you like them apples?
Big Bend
Big Bend National Park is a great spot for viewing the sunset.

Pitch for article: How social media is changing the travel industry

How has social media changed the way we experience and see our world? For better or worse, social media is changing the game for the travel industry.

As any modern-day Instagram scroller knows, social media is constantly showing us beautiful images of places we’ve never been. Ads for travel businesses and study/volunteer programs are always popping up on my feed. But on the other hand, influencers jetting off to new locations is also a predominant theme in my Instagram algorithm. I started to wonder; has social media increased people’s wanderlust and helped the travel industry, or has it made people feel as if they don’t need to get out there because they can easily see all the views from their phone?

I plan to speak with a travel professional and maybe a travel blogger to get their thoughts on how social media has changed the game when it comes to seeing and experiencing the world. Since I have links with Texas Lifestyle Magazine, a local travel publication, I should be able to speak with someone from there to gain insight on how they have shifted their focus to social media and how they think it impacts the travel industry. I also have connections with some Instagram travel bloggers, so I will reach out to them to get their perspective as well. I feel like there is a common misconception people have about travel journalists and influencers– that they are essentially the same. Through my article and interviews, I hope to be able to clear this confusion as well. Hopefully I will be able to contact people who hold both of these professions so I can get two different views on the topic.

I have researched a few sources that also will be helpful to my story:

https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/download/4887/4098

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/how-the-decades-rise-of-social-media-changed-travel.html

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/social-media-influencers

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-influencers/index.html

https://travelfreak.com/social-media-tips-for-travel-bloggers/