Social media and the tourist experience spotlighted on ‘With Good Reason’
Radford University Associate Professor of Tourism and Special Events Anita Zatori will appear on the “With Good Reason” public radio program beginning this week.
Zatori, whose research explores tourism, specifically the consumer experience and experience design in tourism and events, will be part of the “With Good Reason” show titled “Spring Break.” Her interview will air for one week beginning Friday, March 15, on radio stations across the United States. Listeners in the New River Valley can hear the program at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, on Public Radio WVRU 89.9. The show is available as a podcast at withgoodreason.org.
On the program, Zatori will discuss the impact of social media on the tourist experience in terms of travel decisions and how we experience the destination while visiting.
“While travel, especially experiential travel, has been about broadening one’s horizons and enriching the traveler’s travel life, the increased social media consumption of our recent days led to a shift on what experiences we are seeking when traveling,” said Zatori, who teaches in Radford’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
“Internet memes, movies and social media influencers, through their picture-perfect shots and carefully crafted, formulaicreels, inspire our travel decisions and how we consume the visited destination,” she continued. “This takes away the focus from immersive travel experience – for example, watching a sunset and taking in the moment – to formula-led, standardized travel experience expressions such as pictures and video created following trends to be posted on social media.”
“With Good Reason” is produced by Virginia Humanities for the Virginia Higher Education Broadcasting Consortium, which comprises all of Virginia’s public colleges and universities.
The award-winning program is heard by an estimated 100,000 people each week on public radio stations in 38 states, including Virginia and Washington, D.C. Thousands more listeners download the episodes via iTunes.
In addition to Zatori, many other Radford University faculty members have shared their ideas and expertise in interviews on “With Good Reason” in the past year:
Professor of English Laurie Cubbison addressed the universal design for learning as a way of reducing barriers to learning in the college classroom.
Assistant Professor of Biology Sara Houser spoke about a Virginia Department of Health-funded project she and Radford students are working on to measure COVID in wastewater samples in the Roanoke/Salem area.
Robyn Berg, an actor and associate professor in Radford University’s Department of Theatre and Cinema, discussed the importance of self-care for acting professionals who spend much of their lives pretending to be other people.
Assistant Professor of Management Benjamin Biermeier-Hanson, who studies organizational behavior and human resource management, talked about the mass workforce exit known as the great resignation.
Professor of History Sharon Roger-Hepburn spoke about her latest book, “Private No More: The Civil War Letters of John Lovejoy Murray, 102nd United States Colored Infantry,” which features a compilation of 56 letters written by John Lovejoy Murray, a private in Company E, 102nd USCT (United States Colored Troops).
Assistant Professor of Biology Tara Pelletier spoke about her research into unknown mammals that are hiding in plain sight.
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Daniel Miner spoke with the radio program about his work with Wheel Love, a Virginia community group that helps make recreational activities available to people with disabilities.
School of Teacher Education and Leadership Professor Tricia Easterling talked to “With Good Reason” about her dedication to teaching and boosting her students’ critical thinking skills.