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Does anyone know salary ranges for game journalists/media?
- Thread starter McHuj
- Start date
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
My two main interests are writing and computers, so it was a tough decision to choose between Computer Science and Journalism in college. I picked CS. I think I made the right choice.
I wouldn't mind doing some writing on the side, however. Are there any gaming websites out there looking for writers?
I wouldn't mind doing some writing on the side, however. Are there any gaming websites out there looking for writers?
GodfatherX
Member
its around 30-35k which is not much
im making close to 30k doing tech support while putting my fiance through nursing school LPN she gets her license in late december/early jan and already has a job offer making near double what i make [BANK!] and they want to pay for her to get RN
basically when she getsher LPN im finishing up my arts degree and then likely to a local tech college for game design. Really wanted to pursue journalism as its something I really enjoy but the money isnt there
im making close to 30k doing tech support while putting my fiance through nursing school LPN she gets her license in late december/early jan and already has a job offer making near double what i make [BANK!] and they want to pay for her to get RN
basically when she getsher LPN im finishing up my arts degree and then likely to a local tech college for game design. Really wanted to pursue journalism as its something I really enjoy but the money isnt there
Kid Chameleon
Member
It's a mucher tougher job than you might expect. Having to play a game you hate then write 1600 words plus box outs, captions and screenshots inside 24 hours can be a git. Or having to fill pages on deadline because some PR person hasn't sent an interview back they've been promising for weeks is pretty rubbish too.
D
Deleted member 20415
Unconfirmed Member
Kid Chameleon said:
Que? Waiting for PR to send you back an interview? You mean you just print the words that they write instead of actually, conducting an interview?
If that's the case, there's come great journalism Chet!
BrodiemanTTR
Member
Reilly said:
:lol
chespace said:
With all the contradicting posts in this thread I don't know what to believe. Define "veteran".
dirtmonkey37
flinging feces ---->
Reilly said:
It may be a bit high, but individual who works in the industry tell me this specifically. I will not disclose his or her name but think it through: the man in charge of GI, for example, (Andy McNamara) likely makes close to this amount (it was not him who revealed to me this information).
chespace said:
He speaks the truth (once again, basing this off of what my game journalist contact told me)
D
Deleted member 20415
Unconfirmed Member
Eggo said:
I'll buy that - I can see that thing, but from the original comment, it sounded like it was printing some straight PR-speak as an interview, which is not only not ideal, but jank-ass "reporting."
I live in southern Europe, so my wage is not comparable to those in the US.
Anyway, I work part time as a freelance for a couple of magazines, and I earn around 15K$ a year. Being a game journalist is usually the first step to reach better jobs inside the industry, such as PR, localization or marketing. You don't get paid much and magazines can be shutted down suddendly, so you're always on the edge. And it can be frustrating, too: staying up at night to write a review of a crappy game no-one will ever read is not my idea of "rewarding". But it's better than being a factory worker, of course.
Anyway, I work part time as a freelance for a couple of magazines, and I earn around 15K$ a year. Being a game journalist is usually the first step to reach better jobs inside the industry, such as PR, localization or marketing. You don't get paid much and magazines can be shutted down suddendly, so you're always on the edge. And it can be frustrating, too: staying up at night to write a review of a crappy game no-one will ever read is not my idea of "rewarding". But it's better than being a factory worker, of course.
BrodiemanTTR said:
Veterans include most of the regular staff at EGM who have been there longest (Shoe, Crispin, Shane... although it's hard for me to think of your mangod as a "veteran" lol)... Andy Mac, Ricardo Torres, Fran Reyes, yada yada. Mostly the journos from "my generation" which basically means folks I was getting drunk with back in 2000-2003 who are still around today and in higher positions of power (and rightfully so).
I don't know how much money folks are making (except from my own personal experience) but I have no doubt folks from my "generation" are now all making very comfortable wages and carving out a very nice career niche for themselves. I feel like we've all graduated.
dslgunstar
Banned
Wow this is depressing. I make almost double that doing contract work (communication strategy), and I only one year out of college with a BA to my name.
So...is the consensus that (game) journalists should be paid more, or that they're being paid what they deserve for the work they do?
So...is the consensus that (game) journalists should be paid more, or that they're being paid what they deserve for the work they do?
Salaries start low and stay low, unless you move your way way up the chain. Even then, no one goes into journalism to get rich, and like sports writing, there's plenty of people who are happy to do it for the perks (free games, access to super cool industry types, parties, free games) and just enough cash to not starve. It definitely pays less than almost any other professional job (even teaching or social work). I think that's why you see so many younger people in games journalism, who then "graduate" to other jobs in the industry.
Crappy pay isn't unique to games journalism of course. I have a friend who went to college in the early 1980s (journalism major) and I was reading one of her notebooks a bit ago. It was from a lecture on the downside of being a journalist. The note read "Freelance rates approx $.50 - $1/ word -- same as 1950s" Guess what: Freelance rates for game journalism nearly 30 years after she took those notes can be as low as 25 CENTS a word. So... if you're just getting started, you can expect to get paid a quarter or what peope made 60 years ago. And by the way, you better live in SF, NY, or LA if you want to succeed!
The good thing about the bad pay is it weeds out a lot of people. If you meet a game journalist, you can feel pretty confident that whatever their faults, they're doing it out of love.
Crappy pay isn't unique to games journalism of course. I have a friend who went to college in the early 1980s (journalism major) and I was reading one of her notebooks a bit ago. It was from a lecture on the downside of being a journalist. The note read "Freelance rates approx $.50 - $1/ word -- same as 1950s" Guess what: Freelance rates for game journalism nearly 30 years after she took those notes can be as low as 25 CENTS a word. So... if you're just getting started, you can expect to get paid a quarter or what peope made 60 years ago. And by the way, you better live in SF, NY, or LA if you want to succeed!
The good thing about the bad pay is it weeds out a lot of people. If you meet a game journalist, you can feel pretty confident that whatever their faults, they're doing it out of love.
Mammothtank
Member
What does the scouter say about his salary level?
It makes more sense now when you see guys like Che and Luke jump ship to the developer side. I remember Luke saying Bungie made him an offer he couldnt refuse... after reading this thread Im guessing that offer was probably something like 28k and a free legendary edition come Halo 3s release.
i know normal journalists who are starting out and only make $20-30k a year. Thats really little to begin with but on top of that these are people living in cities like boston and ny and rent here usually starts at 1k/month for a little hole even if it is 20 minutes from downtown . Its really hard to live off of less than 42k or so a year.
Not sure what the market is like now, but I'd probably guess it's still around 20k-30k/year. You get extra 10k's with more year experience, but whoever is getting 6 digits in the gaming media is sure to be at the top, and I mean like very top. Either that or there are some exaggerations involved.
It's a type of job that you can apply even without a college degree. Considering that, it's good money if you are starting up. But if you are in SF or NYC....hrmmm, it's quite tough though. If you have a degree, come on man, unless you really like to earn less than what you are potentially capable of, I suggest you take up your profession and do this more like a side job. You can thank me in 4 years.
It's a type of job that you can apply even without a college degree. Considering that, it's good money if you are starting up. But if you are in SF or NYC....hrmmm, it's quite tough though. If you have a degree, come on man, unless you really like to earn less than what you are potentially capable of, I suggest you take up your profession and do this more like a side job. You can thank me in 4 years.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
all these numbers flying around is more than my current job, and i'm already rolling in caaaaaashhhhh! at least in my current situation with 2 (soon to be 3 -- another grand in my pocket) roommates...
i don't get paid squat if anyone is actually curious
(if i were to even consider myself one in the first place)
i don't get paid squat if anyone is actually curious
(if i were to even consider myself one in the first place)
BrodiemanTTR
Member
chespace said:
BE SILENT.
Good to hear someone with personal experience say something about life as a games journalist that isn't doom and gloom. The way most journos talk about their own job you'd think they'd be on the brink of suicide.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
chespace said:
80k a year would be nice by any standard
LukeSmith said:
A few weeks ago Reggie asked to be my personal assistant. When he asked (he came to my apartment) I looked at him and I said, "Reggie, man, I'm a GAF mod. How could I leave all this???" pointing to my Dorito bag and plastic bottle littered desk.
He thus replied "You're right. How could I ever take you away from your junk food paradise?"
I replied "You couldn't, Reggie." And then I closed the door on Reggie, and our relationship.
If you're wondering if I have any regrets turning down the position, maybe I do, maybe I don't, but every time I mash that ban button, a little piece of Reggie flies away.
If you love video games and love to write (and can write well), there are many other avenues besides journalism that will give you the ability to interact with industry participants. Money isn't everything, that's for sure, but I can't figure out why anyone would want to be a (games) journalist. Talk about being poor.
Look at all the other options. Corporate PR, industry groups, marketing, industry analysis, etc. etc. Analysis is particularly interesting. If you're OK with numbers and have a business/math degree, the job can be pretty lucrative. Starting salaries are around $90K and can quickly escalate. A successful analyst with somewhat of a following can easily make $500K after five years on the job (at a large, reputable firm). To be sure, these jobs aren't easy to get, but my point is that there are MANY options available to anyone who is passionate about video games (besides journalism).
Look at all the other options. Corporate PR, industry groups, marketing, industry analysis, etc. etc. Analysis is particularly interesting. If you're OK with numbers and have a business/math degree, the job can be pretty lucrative. Starting salaries are around $90K and can quickly escalate. A successful analyst with somewhat of a following can easily make $500K after five years on the job (at a large, reputable firm). To be sure, these jobs aren't easy to get, but my point is that there are MANY options available to anyone who is passionate about video games (besides journalism).
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
dslgunstar said:
Considering that game journalism requires high school level skills, I'd say the pay rate is just right. If the superstars in the field like Shoe only make 80k (which would be great in most parts of the country, merely decent in SF)... well, like everybody says nobody goes into this for the money.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Dan Hsu clears $1.8 million a year. And thats net, thats not gross.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
consoul said:
so true :lol
BrodiemanTTR
Member
sp0rsk said:
I cried.
Cormacaroni
Member
Troidal said:
Too rich to even send me your resume, Daddy Warbucks! :lol