How to level up in video game journalism
By Elise Nelson
So you love video games. You love writing and editing. Have you ever considered combining the three? Enter video game journalism.
Video game journalism is more popular now than ever before. Ten years ago, the latest gaming news, reviews, and trends were primarily in the hands of niche websites like IGN and Kotaku. While these sites are still absolutely thriving today, recent years have seen a rise in mainstream news organizations developing their own gaming columns. The pandemic, especially, has played a huge role in this development, because more consumers than ever have taken to video games as a form of safe-at-home entertainment. Thus, more general news organizations like Bloomberg and The Washington Post have started taking advantage of the changing industry.
“The audience is here for gaming. The value of these stories, the value of having more heavyweight outlets in the mix is going to be great,” Mike Hume, editor of The Washington Post’s gaming vertical, told CNN.
The ever-rising popularity of video games also means that video game journalism has become a very competitive industry. But, a communications/journalism degree (or equivalent writing experience) combined with a passion for gaming will go a long way. You’ll most likely start out as a writer and you can work your way up to an editing role. Here are some keys to success in video game journalism.
Erase the misconceptions
First and foremost, it’s important to clear your mind of any misconceptions about video game journalism. Here’s one of the most common things to hear as a video game journalist: “So, you get to play video games all day?” This is not true. Most times, when you’re playing a video game for work, it’s to review the game—and you probably won’t be doing that in your first few months on the job. Game reviews are often assigned to senior writers within an organization. You’ll likely be hired as a news writer first. In this role, you’ll most likely only be gaming in your free time with games that you’ve purchased on your own.
As a video game journalist, it’s important for you to have equal parts passion and talent for both writing and gaming. It’s not always games, but when you love every part of what you do, it’s always fun.
Start small
Like many careers, a career in video game journalism often starts with internships. There are plenty of niche video game websites where you can build a portfolio and network with other industry professionals. Smaller sites are less likely to pay for freelance work, but the experiences are valuable. Personally, I’m a fan of the Video Game Journalism Jobs board, which houses a pretty fair mix of volunteer and paid work. As I mentioned earlier, video game journalism is very competitive, so the skills and experiences you build in internships and volunteer roles will be beneficial as you start to apply for bigger roles, like editing gigs.
Now, with that being said, please remember your worth. It can be very easy to fall into a trap of endless volunteer work without any real reward. You deserve to get more than just exposure for the work that you do, so it is okay to turn your nose up at unpaid roles after a while.
Step out of your gaming comfort zone
Video game journalism is a very hands-on niche. You can research online and learn about a trending video game enough to write about it a few times, but you won’t truly understand what anyone is talking about until you try it for yourself. I urge you to step out of your gaming comfort zone. Try different genres and trending titles (as finances allow, of course, because gaming is expensive). The more games you try, the more topics you can comfortably write about. This is especially important as an editor, because you may find yourself putting your author cap on to write a priority story when a writer isn’t available—even if you don’t know the topic well. Bonus: you might just end up finding a new favorite game in the process.
On the flip side, there is also value in specializing in your favorite video games. Nearly all of my editors thus far have suggested that I write what I know. If you’re an absolute expert in Overwatch, highlight that in your job searches and applications. Some websites specifically look for expert beat writers to expand coverage on specific video games, especially in the form of guides and walkthroughs.
Step out of your writing comfort zone
It won’t hurt to try out new writing styles too. Video game journalism goes far beyond news. Many niche gaming sites also have previews and reviews, walkthroughs and other game guides, lighthearted lists, original interviews, and features. Even beyond video games themselves, you can cover consoles, development studios, e-sports, streamers, publishers, and more. Basically, there’s plenty to talk about. If you’ve got an idea for an in-depth gaming think piece or a how-to guide for the week’s most popular game, don’t be afraid to pitch it to an editor. The worst they can do is say no.
Additionally, in such a technology-based industry, individuals with multimedia practice may be more favorable. Have you ever reported in front of a camera? You may want to see whether you can turn any news pieces into scripts that could be used on a gaming channel’s news segment. The more experience you gain in different areas of video game journalism, the more opportunities you’ll have to advance in those areas later.
Keep up with the facts
If you’ve taken Poynter’s Getting It Right: Accuracy and Verification in the Digital Age course, then you know how important it is for both writers and editors to research sources and fact-check. The gaming industry is flooded with rumors every day about upcoming releases, console updates, and more. You may come across people who claim to be industry professionals, but they don’t really know what they’re talking about. If you’re writing about a rumor, be clear about that in the headline and story. Game data and information also tend to get leaked ahead of an official release, so it’s important to verify each source’s credibility. Keep in mind that leaks should still be treated as rumors until they are confirmed or denied by the game or console’s official authorities.
Video game journalism may not be as easy to break into as it seems, especially as the industry grows. However, with dedication and perseverance, you can take your passion for gaming and turn it into the editorial career of your dreams.
