Two posts last week (here and here) mentioned some disparaging remarks the author of Lonely Planet’s guide to Colombia made about Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The author, Jens Porup, made the unflattering characterizations of these countries in a speech in Bogota before Colombia’s minister of tourism and other highly ranked officials.
His comments generated a strong reaction from Travelojos readers.
The most notable of which was from Vivek Wagle, Lonely Planet’s head digital editor. In a comment on last week’s post on Porup’s speech, Wagle said:
I have to say that we’re all disappointed that Jens chose to address the Bogotá tourism industry recently while portraying himself as a representative of Lonely Planet. Jens stopped working with us in June 2009, and Lonely Planet does not support the views he expressed.
As for Peru and the other countries Jen stereotyped, we try our best to be objective and to help people get to the heart of a place. Peru’s main drawcard may be Machu Picchu, but it has MUCH more to offer than pollution and crime. Anyone who has spent time getting to know it would agree. We absolutely do not believe that South American countries can be portrayed in a few flippant, simplistic lines.
I did want to let you know that Jens is in no way speaking for Lonely Planet when he makes such statements.
Counterpoint. Porup countered Wagle’s remarks with this comment:
I used to believe in Lonely Planet. That was why I applied to work for them. I believed that Lonely Planet was about “telling it straight”. That, as an author, I would be allowed, even encouraged, to tell it like it is.
Then I started working for LP, and I realized this was not the case. It may have once been true twenty years ago. Now, all Lonely Planet cares about is making money.
The problem is simple: telling the truth hurts. The BBC (LP’s new owner) is interested in one thing only: maximizing profit. The way to do this is to minimize potential offense to any group, no matter how small.
The result? Guidebooks I don’t want to write, and guidebooks I don’t want to use.
Colombia rocks. Peru sucks. People who’ve been to both places know the truth.
If what Wagle says is true, it was clearly dishonest and inappropriate for Porup to falsely claim to Colombia’s tourism officials that he was representing Lonely Planet. This is so, regardless of how disillusioned Porup might be.
But Porup denies Wagle’s assertions. He says:
When I was invited to speak in Bogota, I clearly indicated to the organizers that 1) I was *not* an employee of Lonely Planet, 2) that I *was* the coordinating author of Lonely Planet Colombia, fifth edition, and 3) I no longer worked for them.
They wanted someone who knew Colombia and could comment on tourism there from a gringo’s perspective. That’s what I gave them.
At no point did I claim to be speaking for Lonely Planet.
Porup made these controversial remarks during a time in which many publishers find themselves grappling with how to deal with writers who are increasingly expressing themselves via social media such as blogs and Twitter.
Some news organizations have begun to prohibit journalists from expressing an opinion on topics relating to the beat they cover. It’s not clear how this policy would be applied to authors of guidebooks.
Publishers’ Objectivity. But Porup’s comment does raise an important question regarding travel publishers’ objectivity about the destinations they cover. Dwelling on some of the realities of traveling in Latin America can’t be good for guidebook sales.
A prime example of a publisher’s tendency to focus on the positive was this news story in USA Today last week about Frommer’s first guide book on Honduras. Nicholas Gill, the book’s author, tells USA Today that Honduras has “a little bit of everything: beaches, active adventures, historical sites, indigenous cultures, wildlife and laidback getaways.”
Oddly, the story makes no mention of the country’s political situation. The U.S. State Department’s Travel Alert for Honduras expired in July and some experts said it was safe to travel there before then. But If I were talking to a friend about visiting the country, I’d definitely say something about the recent events there.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Steve,
How curious. You charge me with unprofessionalism, yet you yourself have failed to check your facts. Was that professional?
When I was invited to speak in Bogota, I clearly indicated to the organizers that 1) I was *not* an employee of Lonely Planet, 2) that I *was* the coordinating author of Lonely Planet Colombia, fifth edition, and 3) I no longer worked for them.
They wanted someone who knew Colombia and could comment on tourism there from a gringo’s perspective. That’s what I gave them.
At no point did I claim to be speaking for Lonely Planet.
In the future, I suggest you get your facts straight before insulting my reputation, or that of anyone else, or you may find yourself with a lawsuit on your hands.
Jens
–
Jens Porup
http://www.jensporup.com
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Jens,
I preceded my sentence with “If what Wagle says is true.”
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
It is not true. It is a lie, it is libellous, and I expect a full retraction.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
It Wagle’s comment. It’s not for me to retract. I have incorporated your response into the post though.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Then explain how, precisely, my “actions are highly questionable from a professional standpoint.” (your words)
I have done nothing wrong. I wrote a damn fine speech that is popular with Colombians, backpackers who know the country, and even Lonely Planet authors. The emails I have gotten from around the world testify that what I said was the truth.
How, exactly, was that unprofessional?
I think what really needs discussing here is your taking unsupported accusation and publishing it as fact. It’s your job as a reporter to confirm your facts, and not publish wild speculation, rumor, and innuendo. How is *that* professional, Steve?
Jens
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I never said it was a fact. I wasn’t the one who accused you of anything. It was Wagle. And he left the comment under your post–unsolicited.
Preceding my opinion is was “if what he said is true.” I added this to signify that I didn’t know whether he was telling the truth or not.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
On second thought. I’m going to remove the sentence you’re referring to because I don’t think it changes anything.
on Oct 30th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Hey, I just happened to catch this. I’m the author of the Frommer’s Honduras guide you mentioned. USA Today didn’t even contact me on that article. My quotes were directly from a press release written even before the political situation in Honduras went out of control. If they would have asked me I would have given them my true thoughts. However, I’m not saying tourists shouldn’t visit the country. Hell, they’ll probably get some good deals now. There are places to avoid of course, though places like the Bay Islands are still well away from what you see in the news.
http://www.nicholas-gill.com
on Nov 15th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I am the coordinating author of the previous edition of Lonely Planet’s Peru guide. Jens Porup’s assertion above that “even Lonely Planet authors” agree with what was said in the speech is a gross generalization. Jens Porup has not polled the entire author field, and is only commenting on positive emails received from *some* LP authors.
As a freelancer contractor who writes for many publishers, and not just Lonely Planet, I strongly disagree with Jens Porup’s dismissal of Peru. (Yes, I have read the entire text of the speech given in Columbia.) Note that I currently receive no income for promoting Peru, because my writing assignments no longer cover that destination. But I would return to travel there as a backpacker any day of the week. Ancient ruins, highland and jungle villages, mountain and volcano climbing, and some of the kindest people I’ve met on the road — that’s what Peru offers.
Sure, some places in Peru are dangerous, dirty and hostile to foreigners. But that is not the whole story. I hope that travelers will take the time to discover that for themselves, and not listen to any one person’s opinion, especially not one that bombastically sums up any country as “[X] sucks.” If you love to travel, you’ll know that kind of statement is never “the truth” and can only be one person’s highly subjective opinion.