Former TravelGolf.com associate editor criticizes story to SATW

By GolfPublisher Staff, Staff Report

Caribbean Tourism Organization rips TravelGolf.com Caribbean coverage

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has blasted TravelGolf.com, an Internet network of 40 online golf publications and course guides, for aCaribbean story that CTO spokesman Richard Kahn described as "inflammatory."

"I was totally amazed at the inflammatory remarks about crime throughout the story," Kahn wrote in a letter to the site. "Yes, there is crime in the Caribbean, but it is no worse there than it is in New York, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, etc."

Kahn also called TravelGolf.com publisher Robert Lewis to complain about its Caribbean coverage. Lewis said Kahn turned down an offer to write a rebuttal.

The story, titled "Caribbean golf: take your clubs, wallet andbodyguard,"and written by National Golf Editor Tim McDonald, warned potential golfers traveling to the Caribbean about an upsurge in crime in recent years,andpointed out areas to avoid in their travels.

"Buyer beware: sometimes the Caribbean isn't always what it's crackeduptobe," McDonald wrote. "Here are some factors the travel agents mayconveniently forget to tell you about.

McDonald went on to name Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic,St.Croix and others as places where travelers needed to exerciseparticularcaution.

Kahn, who has a long-standing relationship with the CTO as a publicrelations consultant, said the story was "not responsible journalism."As ajournalist for more than 30 years I am at a loss of words at thisreportingjob. Your site should be ashamed to have run this report."

Kahn also has long-standing ties to the Caribbean Hotel Associationandhasserved on the Board of Trustees for the Caribbean Hospitality TrainingInstitute.

Lewis said he stood behind the story.

"Absolutely. I stand by his article 100 percent," said Lewis, who saidhisnetwork, which focuses on travel and golf, reaches two million golfersamonth.

The story and its aftermath resulted in the dismissal of DaleLeatherman,associate editor of Caribbeangolf.com, one of the 40 sites under theumbrella of TravelGolf.com.

Leatherman said she resigned, a claim Lewis disputes.

"She was fired in mid June, three weeks before her claimedresignation,"Lewis said.

In a newsletter of the Society of American Travel Writers, a groupthatincludes more than 700 travel writers, Leatherman said she wasannouncingher resignation.

Also, in her announcement, Leatherman said she had started theCaribbeansite and had presided over it as editor, other claims Lewis said areerroneous.

"Her claims of being the 'editor' as well as 'starting'CaribbeanGolf.comrun in conflict with the facts," he said. "She was never the editorandshenever started CaribbeanGolf.com. I bought out CaribbeanGolf.com from athirdparty."

Leatherman's payroll records indicate she was a contract associateeditor.

Leatherman is a member of the Golf Travel Writers Association, whichisaffiliated with the International Association of Golf Tour Operators,atrade organization for the golf tourism industry. Its members includegolfresorts, golf tour operators golf courses, tourist boards andothers.

"She was dismissed as a contract associate editor in June for failingtodisclose to us her business interests in the Caribbean," Lewis said."Inobtaining a position with us, she passed herself and her writing offasobjective journalistic reviews. We felt misled that she failed todisclosethe nature of her relationships in the Caribbean."

"TravelGolf.com takes full responsibility for failing to do the properresearch prior to hiring Dale Leatherman,"he added. "We need to do abetter job. And we will."

Leatherman said she joined the GTWA about a year ago, but never tookanytrips sponsored by either organization.

"Other than freelancing writing projects, I don't have any connectiontoanybody that does trips," she said.

She also criticized the story.

"I have no doubt some of those things (in the article) are true," saidLeatherman. "There is crime all over. But, most travelers go fromairport,they use the resort's shuttle, stay at the resort and never leave it.Ifthey go out of the resort and stroll back-streets of the town, theywillfind trouble."

McDonald said the story was written to warn people of certain areas intheCaribbean, information they might not get from other sources.

"The majority of Caribbean travelers don't have any problem withcrime,ifthey're smart," said McDonald, who added his observations were backedupbypublications such as the CIA Fact Book. "Yes, there is crime in theU.S.,but most Americans have at least some familiarity with it, which theymightnot have in the Caribbean. I think that was the point of thestory."

The article, also criticized because it wasn't properly labeled ascommentary, prompted a deluge of letters to the editor, some critical,somesupportive.

Brian McCallen, a former travel editor for Golf Magazine,said:"Asone who served as Travel Editor at GOLF Magazine for 16-plus years, Icannotever remember reading a more vindictive hatchet job on a destinationsuch asthe one written by Mr. McDonald."

Nancy Hastings of Dayton Ohio, wrote: "I appreciate the writer'shonesty.Too much of what we read and hear is pure marketing to generaterevenueandnot facts and honest guidance to help us make travel decisions. I,too,havebeen in the Caribbean several times, but my visits have declined as Ihaveexperienced more and more of the writer's observations. Keep up thegoodwork."

Lewis said the column was balanced by following positive stories,includingone pointing out safe Caribbean destinations.

He added that the online network would try to paint an objectiveportrait ofthe region, and criticized the mainstream travel media.

"Travelers are being misled by travel media because they are not awarethatthese writers are being funded by Caribbean tourism organizations,"Lewissaid. "Many of these writers will write fluff pieces so they cancontinue toreceive free travel. The majority of travel writers who opine abouttheCaribbean are nothing more than public relations specialistsmasquerading asjournalists."

Marcia Levin, president of the Society of American Travel Writers,defendedthe writers in her organization, saying all the writers she knowswritefairand objective articles that criticize the destinations they arewritingabout whenever necessary.

"(The articles) are not getting hard news reporting, like news item or business items," said Levin. "But any travel writer worth his title is going to be objective. Most travel writers I know write accurately about where they have gone, and the people who go there after they read those articles don't feel they were fooled by what they read."