Rick Steves: Blog Gone Europe - Wow...Iran Wins an Award

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Wow...Iran Wins an Award

Last year we traveled together via this blog through Iran. That experience inspired me to write my Travel as a Political Act book. And since then, my life has been enriched by lots of connections with people who care about peace with the Muslim world. For instance, two nights ago I shared a stage at Seattle's Town Hall with Gina Salá, an amazing musician who bridges cultures in her music (www.ginasala.com) at a fundraiser for the Voices Education Project. With both music and travelogue, Gina and I helped bring the world to Seattle.

Yesterday I got a fun surprise: The Society of American Travel Writers awarded Rick Steves' Iran with the Gold Medal in the “Special Package/Project” category. While there was a “Travel Broadcast Video” category, the Society decided to award our Iran program not just on the show itself, but on the way we used many multimedia components to engage with the viewers: our related radio interviews, newspaper columns, website, vodcasts, online discussion boards, the $5 Iran DVD for groups initiative (in which we sent the DVD to over 7,000 community groups), the printed Iran journal, and my lectures across the country. Our hope to humanize a country of 70 million people was selected for being a multimedia extravaganza! How exciting!

So many people worked very hard to make this campaign what it is. I am thankful to have such a great team to collaborate with. Here are the judges' official comments on our project:

Category 10: Special Package/Project Gold: Rick Steves, “Rick Steves' Iran: Yesterday and Today,” multimedia This is a gold winner for two reasons — the challenging subject and the extraordinary presentation across multiple media. Rick Steves takes us on this unusual journey with a public television special, radio program, Web site with audio, video, links and reader feedback, newspaper reports, day-by-day travel blog and color booklet.

While I generally go about my merry travel writing way without concerning myself with the world of other travel writers, I have great respect for the SATW and am honored to be recognized by them for our Iran project. Just last month, we made our Iran show into a pledge special that will be airing all over the USA this winter, giving the program new life and (we hope) further raising awareness of the struggles of good people living under a bad government.

It's interesting to see what other awards were given to America's many fine travel writers. Learn about this year's awards.

About This Entry

You are reading "Wow...Iran Wins an Award", an entry posted on 13 October 2009 by Rick Steves.

17 replies to this entry. Add your comment below.

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Comments [ top ]

Rick.....you were nervous before the Iran trip and on the plane.....you went (with your crew also) stretching yourself and for all of us who could not go brought back a vivid and real picture of the country and most importantly it's great people.....you and your staff really earned this award....Congratulations and all the best!!!

Posted by: Bill27 - Oct 13, 2009 5:42 PM

Rick, This is great. I think that your desire to spread knowledge rather than fear is commendable and I hope that your work encourages others to look deeper at other "dangerous" countries.

Posted by: A - Oct 13, 2009 9:03 PM

Excellent job. Cant wait for the winter re-airing!

Posted by: Seattle_Joe - Oct 14, 2009 10:55 AM

Rick, Congratulations, I am not all surprised that you were recognized for this production. It was a sensative and eye opening piece. I have it on DVD, have watched it at least 4 times and learn something new with each viewing.

Posted by: Mississippi Mike - Oct 14, 2009 11:56 AM

Rick, congrats on all your work on Iran, it is truly special...wanted to say a word on your last blog...while Itlay is great, it's been a little overdone by you..Vienna, Budapest etc. would be wonderful, additionally why not do some Greek Islands for a change..not Mykonos and Santorini like you've done in the past, how about Corfu (which you would love, many Venetian style buildings), Crete and Rhodes...something new would be great!!! Variety and change are wonderful attributes..keep up the great work

Posted by: t - Oct 14, 2009 1:33 PM

Congrats Rick--it's a fantastic series and deserving of the recognition. You and your team did a great job giving the west a new perspective on Iran.

Posted by: Zach Everson - Oct 14, 2009 3:09 PM

Congrats! Well deserved.

Posted by: Angela Moore - Oct 14, 2009 3:38 PM

Open communications opens up the world. Not a bumper sticker, not a political statement, just common sense. So I give Steves credit for his efforts. Of course he may try too hard but what's wrong with that? If I could give the benefit of my experience to anybody, it would be: beware of anybody or any organization who has only one point of view. Shazzam!! A person or group like that (rigid, ideological, obstreperorous) has an agenda. It may be money or religious or ignorance or family - but it is not balanced. And with due namaste to all the zealots at both ends of the spectrum, bill

Posted by: bill - Oct 14, 2009 3:41 PM

Rick Congratulations, I really loved the DVD on Iran. Hope there are more like those in the future!

Posted by: Judy - Oct 14, 2009 6:50 PM

Keep up the great work. My wife ordered the Iran show for her high school where she teaches. It was very well received.

Posted by: Fred in Atlanta - Oct 15, 2009 8:11 AM

I use the Iran dvd in my geography class along with your your dvds about Europe. All your shows are well received!

Posted by: Craig - Oct 15, 2009 8:54 AM

Congratulations on your award. I truly enjoyed the Iran special and am downloading your Travel as a Political Act from Zune. I have been fascinated with Iran since having an Iranian political refugee as a high school classmate during the waning days of the shah's rule. I would so very much like to visit there someday, and your special is as good a substitute as I can get. Thanks.

Posted by: Peggy West - Oct 16, 2009 10:32 AM

Rick.... congratulations on being recognized for your fine work, however this award pales in comparison to the fact that your website is shown on one of the new iphone commercials. Now that's really big time!

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