The quest: Brett Rogers’ India

Brett Rogers of National Geographic provides a proper example of other niche topics worth considering: Religious pilgrimages. Chapter 3 of the book explains, the value of the religious pilgrimage lies in the search for moral or spiritual significance — the quest. Roger’s quest begins with descriptions of the gripping landscapes of the mystical Ganges River in India before reverting to the reasons for his personal journey.

Here’s what’s good about Roger’s piece: The author uses journalistic techniques to compare and represent Western ideals against (Eastern) Indian culture. Through observation and interview Rogers seem to have completed his experience gaining a deeper understanding of death through the eyes of foreign culture. This new found outlook on life… and death is a prime example of the value of travel journalism: an enlightenment and deep exposure to a new enriching life experience. An experience that can be shared with others. Lastly, Rogers allows this experience to comfort his mourning after his grandmother’s death — a direct impact of his travel journalism. Aspiring journalists can look to how: Rogers allows his personal life to be impacted by the foreign Indian culture; how he interviews locals and implements their advice in the way he experiments the foreign culture; and how he compares his home culture to the foreign culture. Take a look here.