Biases, our little bubbles
As a travel journalism master’s student, I have encountered topics that push me out of my comfort zone. I’ve started to see and understand themes that had never crossed my mind before—or even recognized that some subjects should be discussed more openly. This idea struck me the most during the Tourism and Travel Journalism class taught by Professor Marck Gutt. Today, I’m talking precisely about the biases we carry in the core of our beings—our little bubble, as I like to call it.
Being part of a judgmental community, we are very good at telling what someone is doing is wrong and what is right. Instead of pointing fingers or condemning someone else’s attitude, we should first realize that we are full of biases—and so are they. Our personalities, opinions, tastes, and ideas are all part of this big pot of backgrounds that makes us unique. I’ve understood the importance of sharing knowledge rather than dismissing others' opinions as misguided.
Unlike what I thought, journalism is not only about covering topics through soft or hard news; it’s an opportunity to open conversations and reflect on ourselves and the world.
Recently, I started discussing Regenerative and Responsible Tourism, in parallel with traveling with dietary restrictions, as the main topic of my Master’s Final Project. Initially, I could only blame people for not thinking about our environment or for not considering those with special dietary needs. But during this process, I understood that—as obvious as it is for me, someone with diet restrictions—considering people with the same struggles may not be so clear for someone who never had to read every label while grocery shopping. Just as some countries are discussing climate change, others are still fighting for access to clean water. In the same way, while some destinations are implementing strict visitor policies, others are begging to attract tourists to boost their economies.
Looking to Ireland as my chosen destination—where I plan to live for a few months and also analyze as part of my Master’s Final Project—I’m trying to perceive the country as a blank canvas. When people think of Ireland, the first things that come to mind are St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns, Guinness, and rainy days. And I understand that—because I was once part of that group who had no idea what Ireland is really like.
A country full of lovely, welcoming, polite, and cheerful people. Places that are taken out of a fairy tale book. Landscapes that make you wonder when the giants will show up, running across the hills to the middle of the road—or when the fairies will shimmer from the woods. And maybe the sun doesn’t shine here as much as we’d like to protect the identities of the vampires living in the neighborhood.
But if we start to think outside our bubbles, we can see the world with a new pair of lenses. I just described a fairy tale scenario, but those new lenses aren’t always placed in front of us to see the good. Sometimes, they show us that visitors only see Ireland as Dublin—fueling gentrification and tourism massification in one place—when, in reality, there’s a whole fairy world waiting to be explored across the rest of the country.
Everyone has biases, and it’s normal, but as a journalist under construction, this is the perfect chance to pretend I know nothing and start from scratch. That is how Revoy Travel will rise and grow—free of biases and judgments but also full of new knowledge and conversations.
Please be welcome to join me during this project and this journey.
Cheers,
Re :)
