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What would I need to study in order to be a video game journalist?

#video-games #gaming #writing #journalism

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Chris’s Answer

I would recommend a strong foundation in writing and editing, whether that's from English, literature, journalism or other coursework. Study AP Style, read Strunk & White's Elements of Style, and Stephen King's "On Writing" (my personal favorite book about writing). Learning to write clearly and concisely is the best place to start. From there, consider joining the school newspaper to focus on learning how to report and write, how to build relationships with sources, how to ask thoughtful questions, be a good a listener, and tell a good story. Some literary or film criticism coursework would also be helpful in teaching you how to both think and write critically about a particular topic. All of that will be helpful no matter the subject matter. While subject matter expertise is definitely helpful if you're going to go deep on one area like video games, if you know how to think critically and ask the right questions, you don't need to be an expert on the topic. Good luck!
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G. Mark’s Answer

First, you'd obviously have to gain some experience with video games in order to relate to the experience of playing. You'd have to be familiar with at least some of these like puzzle-type games, action games, shooters, RTS (realtime strategy), etc. so as to appeal to a large audience of gamers. You'd also have to keep up with the latest (and earlier!) game console systems. Many gamers scoff at the need to know older systems, but in actuality it helps to know even the earliest incarnations all the way back to Pong and the Atari systems and Coleco, as well as the fact that some of these early systems evolved their companies into later computer-centric product lines. That being said, it would be nice also to know the entertainment companies and film and comics industries influence on gaming.

Next, you'd be advised to know about journalism itself including language arts and writing. It helps get the confidence of your readership if you sound like you have a handle on communication. You don't want to come off like a "fan-boy" type who knows nothing else but gaming itself.


Last, I'd study some computer science, gaming programming and some engineering. Remember, lots of gamers are not just players, but folks who know something about what goes into building and programming these things.


Oh, and I said "Last", but I was wrong... :-) I would look into something that will definitely represent the future of gaming, and that's Artificial Intelligence. No, not building a Terminator, but have an idea how Machine Learning and Deep Learning work. Not a degree in AI, but just having an idea of what they'll be used for. A lot of gamers are interested in the Tech, and they would like to have an idea that you are too. Plus, if you're really an avid gamer, you're looking to the future and, remember, what technologies and other products gaming technology will be adapted from and adapted to. There are lots of overlaps between the music and movie industries, relation to military and industrial applications and how to adapt innovations across disparate fields.


I think that would make you a great journalist to read!
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Stephanie’s Answer

Hi, K! What do you need to study? Video games! :) Some questions and tips that might help you:

1) Identify your favorite game genres and categories. Are you passionate about triple-A games (ex: Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Dark Souls, all the big "blockbuster" games that get the most coverage online and in magazines), or do you prefer indie releases (ex: Super Meat Boy, Fez)? What do you play and read about the most? Having a niche or knowing your specialties will go a long way to helping you land a gig. What sets you apart as a gamer? What's different about your perspective?

2) Expose yourself to as many games in those genres and categories as possible. That includes playing them but also following the online discourse around them. Soak up as much knowledge as you can about the creators, fandom (Reddit is a great tool for this!), and development history, and follow news, interviews, and reviews.

3) Start small! Look for paying gigs, but keep your expectations realistic. Getting a staff job at places like Game Informer, Polygon, or Kotaku is a long-shot goal. Aim to become a contributor to smaller sites, or pitch one-off features where they're accepted (ex: The Escapist, Kill Screen). There are some freelancer sites for gaming that can help you find opportunities. Pay attention to the type of articles that a site publishes as well. Do they include interviews? Purely op-eds? Are they business-focused or do they dig into personal experiences? Are they cultural in nature? Learn from different writing styles and approaches, but develop your own voice and honest opinion.

4) Keep in mind that games journalism can pay pretty low, so in most cases you're going to need to freelance steadily for multiple publications and/or have a side job to make a living.

I hope that helps, and good luck!
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