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Today I was notified by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) that my latest book, Travel as a Political Act, won their Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism award for the best travel book of 2010.
While I’m not a member of the SATW, I have huge respect for this organization and am honored that they appreciate the spirit of TAPA. There were 1,161 entries in 27 categories, and of all the travel books out there, I’m thrilled that Travel as a Political Act was singled out for this recognition.
Looking back, I realize that I gave my Travel as a Political Act talk as a keynote address to the SATW convention six or eight years ago, and the enthusiastic reception it received stoked my interest in actually writing the book. And now, with this award, it is gratifying to get this further encouragement from SATW to explore and report on ways travel makes us all better citizens of our planet and how we can celebrate rather than fear diversity.
In the spirit of this book’s message, I will donate the award money to Bread for the World (the same nonprofit organization that receives all of my royalties for TAPA). I value Bread for the World for its tireless lobbying on behalf of poor and hungry people around the world.
The award announcement was made today in Leipzig, Germany, at the 26th annual Society of American Travel Writers conference. The award, which is like the Pulitzer Prize for travel journalism, is open to all North American journalists and judged by top US schools of journalism. Our Iran TV documentary and related materials on the radio, web, and in print won last year for multimedia travel journalism. For both awards, I want to acknowledge that I have a team of talented and dedicated people on my staff helping me.
Lots of friends in the field of travel journalism were honored in different categories. For a review of today’s awards in each field, click here.
While some think it’s inappropriate for a travel journalist to speak out on matters political, I’ll take this award as an affirmation from my peers. I believe that challenging our readers to learn from their travels and to be better citizens of our planet is precisely what travel writers do.
(It would be inconsiderate for me not to mention that TAPA just happens to be on sale on our website this month for $5 rather than $17. This is related to a campaign we waged to encourage Californians to consider Europe’s drug policies. This is a giveaway deal and it’s open to all.)
Travel may contribute to climate change. Foreign travel instead of domestic travel contributes to the loss of American jobs. Foreign travel also contributes to the global weakening of the dollar as a world currency. Travel to the United States from foreign countries helps alleviate the economic losses but agravates climate change.
Congratulations Rick! I know that you are sincerely committed to making the world a better place; and while I disagree with most of your political views, I still applaud the sincerity of your efforts, and admire the tenacity with which you apply yourself. Well done!
Congratulations, Rick! Like Mike (above), I disagree with most of your political views, but think you are sincere in your efforts and admire your passion for the ideals you hold dear. You have done a great deal of good for so many people, both at home and abroad. Kudos to you!
Congratulations Rick. I saw your book at Rochester Institute of Technology bookstore last mont where it is being used in a college course on travel. Pam
Congratulations, Rick. I consider you to be “the thinking person`s travel guide” because you attempt to go beyond “what” to “why”.
Is the Lowell Thomas which that award named after, the same Lowell Thomas who made plain ol` T.E. Lawrence into Lawrence of Arabia?
Congratulations, even though I don`t think an award given by journalism schools is necessarily prestigious or an honor when one considers the biases and slants of our current news media. If anything, the way journalism is taught needs to be changed. I also find it very interesting that in the Netherlands, which has the longest running “tolerance” for drugs in their society, they have realized that all the pluses that were touted as a reason to legalize drugs, have NOT been met and are actually trying to reverse their decades-long legalization of drugs. Just another example that proves that while an idea may sound great, in reality the effects are detrimental to society.
Bravo, encore. People doing anything but congratulating Rick on this particular screen are tacky.
Rick, you should be proud of that book, I read it a long time ago and really enjoyed it. A different spin than other polical books. It is amazing how some things have changed since you wrote the book. Where does time go.
There`s nothing tacky about debating any issue on any blog, especially when the author states that “If you think it`s inappropriate for a travel writer to stir up discussion on his blog with political observations and insights gained from traveling abroad, you may not want to read any further” . Likewise, if any blogger thinks it`s inappropriate for a traveler to stir up discussion on this blog with his/her political observations and insights THAT MAY DIFFER, you may not want to read these blogs.
Bravo Rick: You are the thinking persons travel guru.
Congratulations Rick on this honor. What a wonderful country we live in where we all have the ability to express our personal views openly. Please continue to write your blog and express your views, even though I don`t always agree, as they have challenged me to think about issues/comments from a different perspective than my own. Looking forward to seeing you in Tampa in December.
Congratulations Rick. Like Mike (above), I disagree with most of your political views, but think you are sincere in your efforts and admire your passion for the ideals you hold dear.
Rick, my sincere congratulations on your award. It`s well deserved!
Rick, while we are political polar opposites, we agree on so very much concerning travel. I too admire the passion and sincerity in your life. You are one of my favorite liberals and my second favorite travel writer. S.L.Clemens still #1. Greatly anticipating my next journey with ETBD!
Oh, and of course, congratulations!!
janet, notice I said on this particular screen. I have no problem with people disagreeing with his normal blogs, but this one simply says he won an award. If you read Rick`s post and then some of the comments, yes they are tacky. It`s childish to get a jibe in when there`s no discussion occurring.
Congratulations, Rick and staff. Well done.
I disagree with the whole premise of travel involving politics. I do it for the experience and pleasure of traveling. I find the idea of wearing a t-shirt with Obama`s name on it tacky as just one example. I find Rick Steves travel books the best on the market. It saves me the time and money involved in group travel. I find irony in the fact that Rick has benefited as much as anyone from living and utilizing a capitalistic, free market Republic state then supports an administration and political philosophy that is openly socialistic. Now you may understand the reason behind my first post.
For anyone who hasn`t taken a basic course in comparative politics, just because someone is a few steps up the ladder away from pure Liberalism (not what we in n. america call “liberalism,” true economic liberalism meaning total free-market) and toward Social Democracy (which still involves a free market) doesn`t mean they are totally against business and capitalism. Yes you can disagree on how much control the government has and how much tax money is taken to be redistributed, but I feel you are misled in claiming irony in the fact that Rick benefits from a successful business while espousing social democratic views.
Congratulations, Mr. Steves! Well-earned indeed. (Hey Yankee Doodle, the sourpops on this thread aren`t worth getting heated over. They`re going to see what they want…)
Looks like you are in good company Andrew McCarthy the ex bratpacker actor for the 80`s won the 2010 Travel Writer of the Year in the same competition. http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/surprise-andrew-mccarthy-is-an-awardwinning-writer–1649
Wow will this article change your thinking and book http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451
You go, Rick! Congratulations (Norwegian),Maith thu (Irish) felicidades, ?estitam (Bosnian) to you and your team. It`s wonderful that a stellar citizen of the planet recieves recognition for making us all understand each other just a little bit better through travel and common sense. Peace!