Reporter, photographer, and lifelong road traveler
The Road Boomer
This website, created in 2021, was intended to be an archive of my stories and photographs compiled during more than four decades on the road. The publications in which the majority of them appeared had limited readership so they did not have a wide audience.
Since the archived content is in the realm of human interest rather than news, the stories remained relevant. Yet to make them more so, when possible, I added a postscript to each piece. In some instances, the postscripts turned out to be more interesting than the original story.
Most of the early photographs in the Gallery section had rarely been seen – and never published – as they were filed in slide trays and folders for years. The pictures I took generally happened while moving from one story to the next. Since I mostly traveled overland, the opportunities were plentiful. Since then, I’ve added new pictures from recent travels and turned them into photo stories, a form of reportage.
Perhaps the most important section is titled Reflections. This has served as a memoir of sorts – a first-person telling of stories, experiences and thoughts never published. For me, it’s served as a cathartic experience of sorts.
In 2023 I added a Satire section. In my early years as a reporter, I wrote the occasional humor column featuring slice of life experiences. I have continued this practice and decided to share them with my readers. Based on their reviews, it’s been a good decision.
Finally, the response from the early stories was so positive I decided in 2021 to return to the road on a part-time basis to produce new content. Since then, I’ve reported from 12 countries, the results of which you can find in the Current section. The criteria are simple: Places I’ve never been. No wars.
Thanks for taking a look. I hope you find something you enjoy.
George J. Tanber
George J. Tanber is a native of Toledo, Ohio. From 1974-90, he traveled to more than 50 countries as a freelance and newspaper staff reporter. His articles and photographs have appeared in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Christian Science Monitor and National Geographic publications.
Beginning in 1990, he authored a weekly world news feature column, Crossroads, a joint venture with the Anniston [Ala.] Star and Universal Press Syndicate. The column lasted six years and took Tanber around the world several times.
Much of his travel has involved overland journeys through developing countries in conflict and turmoil.
From 1996-2006, Tanber worked as a special projects and investigative reporter for The [Toledo] Blade. He also has worked as a correspondent for ESPN.com and Thomson Reuters.
Tanber has lived in suburban Washington, D.C., Spain, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. He currently operates a video production and content-writing business in Toledo.
Tanber is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, where he also has a Master’s degree in communications.