Former Express-News travel editor Tracy Barnett will conduct the Starting and Getting the Most Out of Your Weblog beginner and advanced courses this weekend as part of Gemini Ink’s fall semester. Barnett is a bilingual, multicultural and web-savvy travel writer, editor and teacher. With more than two decades of experience as an award-winning newspaper and magazine writer, an educator, and an author, she incorporates literary talent and a flair for adventure with today’s new media as an audio-video producer, photographer, blogger, and storyteller who crisscrosses boundaries of medium and culture. But more important than medium is the message, which goes beyond language and culture. No matter where she goes, Barnett’s travels are questions in search of answers that exist on the plane of the human heart. 
Gemini Ink’s Communications consultant Jennifer Herrera conducted a Q&A interview with Barnett via e-mail with a goal to keep questions and answers only 140 characters long (à la Twitter) as an example of incorporating social media in readers own blogs.
JH: Why travel writing?
TB: Travel takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you a heightened sense of awareness. This is a place where tremendous growth can happen.
JH: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of travel writing in today’s culture, specifically in the ever-changing journalism world?
TB: (OK, but I get 2 tweets on this one)
Con: 1. Good narrative writing down in favor of consumer tips. 2. How’s a professional writer to make a living when everyone’s a writer?
Pro: 1. More voices = more choices. 2. Social media has produced a thriving community. 3. So many more ways to tell the story. 4. It’s fun.
JH: What’s your writing style when it comes to your blog?
TB: My style is evolving. I was a narrative storyteller; now the story is shorter, but I look for ways to tell it in photos, video and audio.
JH: Do you find print journalism adapting well to societies quick adoption of new media?
TB: Not very well. Some present disorganized, hard-to-search sites; others are dumbing down content to maximize hits. Few have really “got it.”
JH: Can you share more about your upcoming project, “Looking for Esperanza”?
TB: Next year I’ll be ecoblogging my way from Mexico to Patagonia. It will be the green, Latin American, multimedia take on “Eat, Pray, Love.”
JH: What’s the future hold for you?
TB: Wouldn’t I like to know! Hopefully a fat book contract, a bestseller, a movie with Meryl Streep … seriously, I just want to make a difference.
JH: What’s the most important bit of advice to share with those interested in new media?
TB: Throw out the rule book and keep an open mind. Support net neutrality and internet for all. The web works best when it works for everyone.
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