4 chapters across the catalog
Dvorak's International Travel and Speaking Tours
Mimi Dvorak discusses John's history with international travel, noting that he eventually grew tired of it after years of global junkets and speaking engagements. She recalls a family trip to South Africa where John flew first class while the rest of the family was in coach. Despite his extensive travels to places like Finland, Dvorak eventually preferred the comfort of his home.
Maxine Waters and Congressional Junkets to South America
A review of WikiLeaks documents reveals Representative Maxine Waters' frequent participation in international congressional junkets. The records indicate travel to Peru and Paraguay for events described by the hosts as "phony baloney." Waters is characterized as a "junket queen" who travels with a specific group of Democrats and Republicans to attend these organized international trips.
John Dvorak discusses the hypocrisy of journalism ethics rules regarding gifts and junkets. He explains how the New York Times uses strict "pay-your-own-way" rules to maintain exclusivity while smaller publications are priced out of international coverage. He argues that the rise of bloggers has disrupted this gatekeeping system.
Movie Reviewer Decline, Fake Celebrity Interviews
The era of trusted movie critics like Siskel and Ebert has ended, replaced by a promotion-driven system where reviewers are paid to praise films. Many "exclusive" celebrity interviews are revealed to be "canned" junkets where the interviewer and the star are never actually in the same room. This lack of honesty in entertainment journalism is attributed to the consolidated ownership of networks and film studios.
