I read an intreting article over at tiredoldhack.com:
The writer is a former video game journalist. He still writes video game articles but he isn't paid anymore. He is commenting on article written on Polygon:
He made some very interesting points:
Send a game journalist who is interesting in the game.
When a game journalist is sent to a preview event for a game, they should at least write about the game and maybe play it.
I thought the article makes a very good case. In fact I agree with the article to center degree. Should a game journalist care about the game they are covering? Yes. Should they know something about the genre they are covering the game falls under? Yes. Do they have to be in love with the series as a whole? Nope.
My question to all of you is should a video game journalist care? Does it matter to you?
My fucking god, yes they should since I find pretty negative reviews for pretty decent games since the "journalist" just hasn't played it or just has some prejudice with it(*cough couch, Anita)(sorry bringing her up, its just that some people take her bullshit as fact =P)
Good quality journalism is about 'impartiality', and 'critical-thinking' on a subject; bias can creep in, and devalue the subject in question (in this case gaming)
A journalist who possesses a 'bias' to a game is doing his or her readers a great disservice in the long-term.