That old dream of me and you, and an hotel room in Pyongyang

A journalistic essay that analyzes the ethical dilemmas of storytelling and traveling in authoritarian contexts. With historical and current references, the author reflects on how totalitarian regimes manipulate the tourism narrative to whitewash their image, and proposes tools to maintain journalistic rigor without falling into propaganda. A critical, documented, and courageous look at the role of the traveler and the journalist in sensitive territories.

When the Lens Lost: The Dilemma of Media Transforming from a Profession to a MoneyFuelled Hobby

A thoughtful and critical chronicle written from Aleppo, Syria, which confronts the conflict between committed journalism and the viral logic of ‘content creators’. The author recounts a first-hand experience in a craft workshop bombarded by influencers seeking to dramatise the scene, and reflects on the role of the journalist as a witness, not a director. A staunch defence of ethics, respect for narrative timing and professional integrity.

The Smile That Wasn’t Mine to Share

A reflective chronicle of a trip to Varanasi and an experience that confronts the ethical limits of travel journalism. The author recounts the moment when she decides not to take a photograph of a widowed woman, understanding that, although there was a smile, there was no real and conscious consent. A powerful lesson on empathy, representation, and the responsibility of telling other people’s stories.

A Dagger in the city’s left flank

An investigative and reflective chronicle set in Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), where the author recounts his experience as a journalism student investigating a community of Afghan migrants living on the outskirts of the city. Through an ethical and human approach, the text addresses complex issues such as national identity, migration, exclusion and journalistic responsibility, highlighting the tension between social commitment and narrative sensitivity.

The Digital Compass: How Online Communities Rewrote My Life’s Direction

A personal and transformative chronicle that tells the story of how a healthcare professional finds a new life path through a digital nomad retreat in Madeira. Told with honesty and emotional strength, the story explores the impact of virtual communities, burnout, and the courageous decision to change one’s life. A reflection on the power of the digital world to create real connections and new beginnings.

Contact

School of Travel Journalism S.L.

CIF: B44734986

BARCELONA, SPAIN

+44 7361587597

hola@schooloftraveljournalism.com

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