Eat there! Shop here! Visit that! Presenting the city in mass media travel writing

In contrast to travelogues, many mass media travel articles focus on providing usable content instead of literary value. This study investigated the content of three recurring travel features (or ‘visitlogues’) in mass media publications. A quantitative approach was used to find which aspects of a destination are mentioned in travel writing instead of how they are represented. Fifteen articles covering five cities were investigated. The articles were written in second person and were prescriptive (rather than descriptive) in nature, directing the reader what to experience. There was a focus on (often excessive) consumption of dining/drinking, shopping, and sightseeing experiences. However, the authors also featured experiences unique to each city. Interactions with the ‘Other’ were scarce, and the articles had little literary value. Arguments are presented that much mass media travel writing should be considered through different lenses than travelogues.