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[tranciful]

Why doesn't CNN point out how full of shit Fox news is?

Sarcastic? Last I checked Fox and CNN both had dedicated shows that focus on the coverage from other media outlets.

 

[jongkookie]

They don't want to be them because they are not journalists. Are you aiming for video game press as maybe a way to get any sort of experience or are you looking for other subjects ?

Not really, it's just a general feeling I've experienced while being here. A lot of us talk about games actually, but bring up being part of the gaming press, the whole conversation just goes south. And it's not because we're people who have a unflinching love for truthful and hard news, the gaming press just doesn't seem to have the proper pathway of advancing your career.

Like once you're in Polytakubomb the chances of you getting a job outside of the gaming press look to be really slim.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Not really, it's just a general feeling I've experienced while being here. A lot of us talk about games actually, but bring up being part of the gaming press, the whole conversation just goes south. And it's not because we're people who have a unflinching love for truthful and hard news, the gaming press just doesn't seem to have the proper pathway of advancing your career.

Like once you're in Polytakubomb the chances of you getting a job outside of the gaming press look to be really slim.

I see. Well, good luck in whatever you decide

 

[coreyerb]

I don't think that's true. Kotaku, among a few others, have been doing a great job at writing some very deep, long form articles on several aspects of the industry recently.

I think it's important to distinguish the good from the bad in order to encourage the former.

There are occasional examples of actual, researched content but it's the business model that's to blame for there not being more of it. Since websites are ad-supported and have to compete for clicks, there are going to be more "Hottest Gamer Babez!!" articles than actual in-depth (useful to the consumer) content - and an aspect of the polarizing or controversial is always going to be pushed in reviews. Whatever gets clicks, which unfortunately for the state of humanity, is going to be the trash rather than the thoughtful.

Then there's the fact it's not journalism but more an extension of PR. When game sites' access is controlled by the marketing wing of the companies they cover, there's always going to be pressure to maintain the status quo so your access doesn't get cut off.

The only way I can think of that you'll get fact-checked, accountable games journalism is if the website is user-supported, ad-free and pays for all its games/consoles it reviews.

The problem is thinking of it currently as "journalism." It's not. It's PR.

 

[TheMasterGoblin]

Regardless of what you think of game journalism, there is a standard rule and practice amongst journalists.

You can criticize everything, scrutinize everything, but don't do it to your fellow journalists (at least not publicly).

Besides it being in bad taste to focus on the providers of information instead of the source and information itself (which is a standard practice in politics and law), it casts a bad light on the journalistic field and can sour the relationship of all journalists to their audience.

 

[coreyerb]

Regardless of what you think of game journalism, there is a standard rule and practice amongst journalists.

You can criticize everything, scrutinize everything, but don't do it to your fellow journalists (at least not publicly).

Besides it being in bad taste to focus on the providers of information instead of the source and information itself (which is a standard practice in politics and law), it casts a bad light on the journalistic field and can sour the relationship of all journalists to their audience.

Right but where games journalism differs from actual journalism is actual journalists self-regulate. Meaning, they're expected to run a correction if they mess something up.

Nothing of the sort is common with video game review sites. Doesn't matter if they get facts wrong, they'll stick by their shoddy researching and just pass it off on imperfect information from the source. Sure, some will edit a post but there's no pressure to get it right, more to get it up first without any sort of fact checking. Many times the only person who edits a piece before it's posted is the writer.

So no, it might not be good form to go critiquing your peers in the press, but if they're not going to do it for themselves seems like fair game.

 

[Gaz_RB]

Not really, it's just a general feeling I've experienced while being here. A lot of us talk about games actually, but bring up being part of the gaming press, the whole conversation just goes south. And it's not because we're people who have a unflinching love for truthful and hard news, the gaming press just doesn't seem to have the proper pathway of advancing your career.

Like once you're in Polytakubomb the chances of you getting a job outside of the gaming press look to be really slim.

Mostly agreed. You don't happen to go to Mizzou's JSchool do you?

 

[Ledsen]

Honestly, nobody outside of hardcore gamers give a shit about the gaming press. I'm in journalism school right now and nobody here wants to be the next Adam Sessler or Arthur Gies. It's all about being the next Anderson Cooper or Nate Silver.

Seriously, the gaming press is in the same rank as TMZ or those celeb news sites. As a gamer it's quite sad but then again the moment I see the shit that goes on in here, yeah... no thank you.

I don't think wannabe games writers want to be the next Arthur Gies either.

 

[Vice]

They don't want to be them because they are not journalists. Are you aiming for video game press as maybe a way to get any sort of experience or are you looking for other subjects ?

For me, and other I know who were interested in doing some games writing, the games press is too insular. I've freelanced for local and national publications, even one of the biggest comic sites in the world, and gaming outlets still never respond to any pitches I send in.

In comparison, I've had great success networking in traditional media with everything from internships to part-time/temp jobs in print and web media while in school.