I'll have to agree with several different points of view on the comments.
First, that blogging isn't equal journalism, specially what is done here on Kotaku.
But I'm not bashing Kotaku. I'm here everyday because I like what happens here way more than just about everything else I've seen done by journalists on gaming in other media.
Still, while I'm studying journalism, I can't qualify any of the Gawker blogs as journalism, because there are several rules and formats that defines the job that are twisted and broken here everyday.
Some might see this as a good thing, others not.
Others might try arguing that journalism these days are in such a sad state that it does even worse practices than what we are used to seeing on blogs.
Still, I don't want to disqualify my future job due to some bad professionals, or due to a market tendency.
But I guess the discussion will end up in lexicon... what "journalism" means to each of us.
I will say the need for new news and information has greatly increased in the internet age. I reckon most folks here will have Kotaku on F5 or RSS, and possibly many other blogs and sites. And maybe add to this Twitter too. And Wikipedia, Wikis to add to what we know about games, and webcomics too I guess.
And handily the internet has allowed for this change, you guys have new articles up nearly every 20 minutes (apart form Weekends, Owen is one slacker) and the free availability of visiting multiple sites to get nearly every last drop of news so one site misses the other will pick up the slack. Which that would be an expensive hobby buying several magazines for this news.
Very hum'rous to see Ian Livingstone, head of a company that co-engineered Gerstmanngate and was more recently accused of unethical manipulation of UK mags in order to secure high Batman: Arkham Asylum scores, talking about reviewers not "reviewing games properly."
@Yossarian: I think the point Thetallywacker was going for was that with the way gaming journalism has shifted, it has devalued the job. So many people -want- to do this job that many do it for free, on their own time. The companies who would pay writers and editors for that look at that scenario and say "People are wiling to do this work for nothing. Sometimes they even pay out of their own pockets to be able to do it! Why are we -paying- people to do it?"
It always seems like if enough people like doing something, the amount someone would be willing to pay for that job remains rather low. Some game companies thrive on feeding in an ever-changing roster of testers, taking bright-eyed, eager gamers who want a job in the industry and throwing them into the proverbial wood-chipper. There will always be more people who want to work in gaming; no need to value the individual worker when there are thousands waiting to take his or her place.
On the other hand, jobs that no one would ever do without being paid well, get paid well. This is why plumbers and wastewater treatment facility operators make good money and game reviewers, noble as they are, always feel like they're on a precipice.
I definitely appreciate all the bloggers at Kotaku, Destructoid, Joystiq, and other sites I read regularly, and I -wish- that the state of journalism gave them even more legitimacy, but I can't get around seeing that businesses tend to take advantage of people doing something they like to do, unless they have some sort of individual prominence. Information might want to be free, but people want to be paid, and that, I think, is a big part of the row between print media and online journalism. Though, I'm just an observer on this; I'd be interested in hearing what online journalists themselves think of all this.
@tenken: They have less to worry about than you think.
Stephen Totilo has tremendous leverage in his Rolodex.
You act professional, approach it as a job, and build up the contacts that only years of being in the scene will create, and you end up with a position that has power.
You don't generate those contacts and that power without talent and work.
Legitimacy/respect, blah blah blah, is all irrelevant. They are established enough to make money and to get access to the industry insides. That's enough for them to do their jobs and provide a level of blog that is 100x better than Joe Schmoe blogging out of his bedroom.
I do find it interesting how they talk about independent game reviewers. I have envisioned myself as an independent journalist on any number of web gaming shows like 1up, coop, giant bomb, kotaku, etc etc. But everyone can be a critic, and who knows or cares if what you say is worth hearing. But with web applications today, anyone can try it out to see if they are any good at it.
Kotaku you have really come a long way from when you guys first started. You guys must be proud of having such a respected impact on the gaming journalism and gaming industry circle. I salute you!! It's been fun watching you guys grow over the years. Continue doing what you do!
09/29/09
First, that blogging isn't equal journalism, specially what is done here on Kotaku.
But I'm not bashing Kotaku. I'm here everyday because I like what happens here way more than just about everything else I've seen done by journalists on gaming in other media.
Still, while I'm studying journalism, I can't qualify any of the Gawker blogs as journalism, because there are several rules and formats that defines the job that are twisted and broken here everyday.
Some might see this as a good thing, others not.
Others might try arguing that journalism these days are in such a sad state that it does even worse practices than what we are used to seeing on blogs.
Still, I don't want to disqualify my future job due to some bad professionals, or due to a market tendency.
But I guess the discussion will end up in lexicon... what "journalism" means to each of us.
09/28/09
I will say the need for new news and information has greatly increased in the internet age. I reckon most folks here will have Kotaku on F5 or RSS, and possibly many other blogs and sites. And maybe add to this Twitter too. And Wikipedia, Wikis to add to what we know about games, and webcomics too I guess.
And handily the internet has allowed for this change, you guys have new articles up nearly every 20 minutes (apart form Weekends, Owen is one slacker) and the free availability of visiting multiple sites to get nearly every last drop of news so one site misses the other will pick up the slack. Which that would be an expensive hobby buying several magazines for this news.
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
And keeps staring and just going on and staring and just keeps going and staring
09/28/09
I stand in the face of a might opponent.
@excel_excel: He's always been onto us.
09/28/09
Thank you Kotaku, Joystiq, Destructoid, etc. I'll never have to buy a gaming mag ever again.
09/28/09
Very hum'rous to see Ian Livingstone, head of a company that co-engineered Gerstmanngate and was more recently accused of unethical manipulation of UK mags in order to secure high Batman: Arkham Asylum scores, talking about reviewers not "reviewing games properly."
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
It always seems like if enough people like doing something, the amount someone would be willing to pay for that job remains rather low. Some game companies thrive on feeding in an ever-changing roster of testers, taking bright-eyed, eager gamers who want a job in the industry and throwing them into the proverbial wood-chipper. There will always be more people who want to work in gaming; no need to value the individual worker when there are thousands waiting to take his or her place.
On the other hand, jobs that no one would ever do without being paid well, get paid well. This is why plumbers and wastewater treatment facility operators make good money and game reviewers, noble as they are, always feel like they're on a precipice.
I definitely appreciate all the bloggers at Kotaku, Destructoid, Joystiq, and other sites I read regularly, and I -wish- that the state of journalism gave them even more legitimacy, but I can't get around seeing that businesses tend to take advantage of people doing something they like to do, unless they have some sort of individual prominence. Information might want to be free, but people want to be paid, and that, I think, is a big part of the row between print media and online journalism. Though, I'm just an observer on this; I'd be interested in hearing what online journalists themselves think of all this.
09/28/09
Stephen Totilo has tremendous leverage in his Rolodex.
You act professional, approach it as a job, and build up the contacts that only years of being in the scene will create, and you end up with a position that has power.
You don't generate those contacts and that power without talent and work.
Legitimacy/respect, blah blah blah, is all irrelevant. They are established enough to make money and to get access to the industry insides. That's enough for them to do their jobs and provide a level of blog that is 100x better than Joe Schmoe blogging out of his bedroom.
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
Beautiful hair.
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
And, lack of hair, is a type of hair. Because I said so.
09/28/09
09/28/09
Good to see Kotaku taking credit where it is due.
09/28/09
It scared the bejesus out of me (((( ;゚Д゚)))
09/28/09
09/28/09
Behold the true greatest use of the iPhone. Nothing makes a poop better than posting a snarky comment on Kotaku while squeezing one out.
09/28/09
On an unrelated note, does anyone know a way to unread something?
09/28/09
Thanks Yossarian.
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
Oh, there they are.