A journalist picked me for her article - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Esterina** · 11-02-2005, 07:41 PM

Believe it or not, but I received both a phone call and an email from this journalist from Toronto who was looking for the atchoum from travelpunk ! She's writing an article on women who take a career break in their 30's and through a search on Google using general key words, she found me !

She read about my travels on this site, and found my phone number while searching further on the net.

I don't know if I'll have time to take part in her research, but I just wanted to share this strange and somewhat disturbing experience with you. Internet has become a powerful tool as it appears...

**travelpunk** · 11-02-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atchoum@Nov 2 2005, 07:41 PM
Believe it or not, but I received both a phone call and an email from this journalist from Toronto who was looking for the atchoum from travelpunk ! She's writing an article on women who take a career break in their 30's and through a search on Google using general key words, she found me !* She read about my travels on this site, and found my phone number while searching further on the net.

I don't know if I'll have time to take part in her research, but I just wanted to share this strange and somewhat disturbing experience with you. Internet has become a powerful tool as it appears...

[snapback]84248[/snapback]

What?! That's pretty strange

. Is your phone number on this site or anywhere else on the net?

Do you have a blog that we don't know about

?

Be careful, Esther...

**Esterina** · 11-02-2005, 07:54 PM

In fact, she called an ex-employer of mine. They thought too it was pretty strange, so they didn't give her my phone number but phoned me to give me hers.

**travelpunk** · 11-02-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atchoum@Nov 2 2005, 07:54 PM
In fact, she called an ex-employer of mine. They thought too it was pretty strange, so they didn't give her my phone number but phoned me to give me hers.

[snapback]84252[/snapback]

Doesn't that violate any privacy laws (that your former employer gave out confidential info)?

Did she register on the boards

?

**Joker** · 11-02-2005, 08:47 PM

Little kooky, E. I'd want to see some credentials via snailmail from her prior to giving out any info... But I'm paranoid sometimes

**TheJake** · 11-02-2005, 09:05 PM

Yea definitly meet in a place with lots of eyes around.

But on the other hand I have some journalist friends that go to great lengths to find their prey! Maybe she's legit, in which case WAY TO GO!

**kingcrazylegs** · 11-02-2005, 11:32 PM

thats kinda wierd....but if its legit, a good way to plug tpunk

**omisan** · 11-03-2005, 12:36 AM

Awesome

You realize now that it's your responsibility to be a good ambassador for travelers... Not that you wouldn't be anyway!

**The Monsignor** · 11-03-2005, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by travelpunk@Nov 2 2005, 08:59 PM
Doesn't that violate any privacy laws (that your former employer gave out confidential info)?
Did she register on the boards ?

[snapback]84254[/snapback]

The employer didn't give any information that was private, they just facilitated contact by passing on the message...

The internet is a pretty available place, and it's easy to find quite a bit of info about someone if they're active on the internet.

(I'm fairly careful to maintain a low internet profile, myself, but it's awsome that you became an object of interest, Esther)

**worldwidemike** · 11-03-2005, 07:29 AM

Well, Atchoum is an inspiration to me, so it's no surprise that others felt the same way! She's a gem.

Anyway, take normal precautions, but don't pass up the opportunity to spread the faith of travel (and travelpunk!). Good luck!

By the way, the publication she works for...is it English or French? If English, you'll have to e-mail us her final article!

worldwidemike

**MolsonGirl** · 11-03-2005, 07:36 AM

Yeah... we Torontonians are weird... but nice

I can ask around if you want... check credentials

**beergal** · 11-03-2005, 07:37 AM

or she could translate it into english for us ha ha

way to go esther!

xanthuos · 11-03-2005, 12:14 PM

It's amazing what you can find out about people on the internet.
As others have said, I'd just ask about credentials...if you have the time though, I hope you'll consent to being interviewed by her!

chelseafc05 · 11-03-2005, 11:43 PM

make her pay for your time and important info you have to give !!!!!!!

**Esterina** · 11-12-2005, 07:15 PM

Quick update : we had yesterday our first phone interview. I had to explain in about 20 minutes why and how I took a year off of my career to travel. It's a bit short, and felt like I had said nothing valuable. But I'll write her to go further into my experience.

All worries down : she was a real journalist. And chelseafc, I didn't dare asking for money, but

**kingcrazylegs** · 11-12-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atchoum@Nov 12 2005, 07:15 PM
Quick update : we had yesterday our first phone interview. I had to explain in about 20 minutes why and how I took a year off of my career to travel. It's a bit short, and felt like I had said nothing valuable. But I'll write her to go further into my experience.

All worries down : she was a real journalist. And chelseafc, I didn't dare asking for money, but*

[snapback]86568[/snapback]

who does she work for?

**Esterina** · 11-13-2005, 08:38 AM

She's a freelance.

NashPCH · 11-13-2005, 04:12 PM

As a former freelancer myself, I would think it would be a bit extreme (and unusual) for her to go thru that much trouble contacting you *unless* she was on a well-paying assignment ...

...but assignment or not, don't expect a freelancer to pay you anything for your troubles unless she's writing up an article for national geographic, playboy, or reader's digest, cause per article most freelancers don't make a whole lot ....

but anyway, be careful!!! Even if over the phone, be careful about the info you go out ... and if you want, even find out if the article's on assignment and from whom, and ask for "clippings" -- samples of previously (published) work.

If she can't scrap up any, well :greenguy:

**Esterina** · 11-13-2005, 05:17 PM

Thanks NashPCH, I'll use your advise.

She did ask only "normal questions", relating my overall travel experience and appriciation. Nothing personal. But anyway, I have nothing to hide... I think...

mark-0 · 11-13-2005, 05:28 PM

Also, you might want to ask for "tear sheets". That's a clipping of the finished article that they interviewed you for, torn out of the publication it was printed in. Usually bands or movie PR people ask for them if they've given a publication a free cd, tickets to a concert, or movie, or interviews with band/actors. That is, only if you're still worried that it's not legit and the reporter is shady. That will be proof positive that the whole thing was legit.