The website's fall is the latest chapter in the gradual decline of local games journalism. Editors are short on solutions and are concerned for its future.
It really is. Really unclear as to what the solution is, but keen to follow with some high profile streamers at some point and get their take on it all.
They likely use games journalism as a first draft for their content.
Hmm… I never thought about that. You bring up a great point about how gamers who used to read EGM and then later IGN now likely spend most of their time watching streamers or YT content creators. But something is missing when you don’t have quality game journalism… at least an old hat like me thinks so
I have a different view about this. I think these are dinosaurs finally starting to tumble because they can't change fast enough.
Also, unless we're talking about something at the level of GamesIndustry.biz or GameDiscoverCo, I think "game journalism" is a contradiction. I think the article you wrote above is a better example of game journalism than anything I could see on the Kotaku Australia website.
First off, thank you. Cards on the table, I studied and practiced as a journalist for three years (in tech). So I (hopefully) know what I’m doing!
Appreciate the compliment though!
It’s tricky.
I think there’s room for intelligent journalism at publications that don’t usually cover gaming. There is an audience there.
Kotaku still has a place in my view, but I think it’s a crowded spot among other overseas publishers, competing for the same eyeballs.
The problem here is the more websites that close, the more it shows that editors and decision-makers at publishers just don’t care about the topic. Or see value in it, despite heaps of data showing it’s a mainstream interest area.
The press can muckrake for clicks, some sites are purely driven by this. But they also dedicate time and resource to uncovering issues within the sector, with an eye to driving a solution for them.
It’s complex. Don’t have the answers as to how it can be sustainable or you convince the old guard to invest. But from experience in the industry, less media diversity is never a good thing.
"The problem here is the more websites that close, the more it shows that editors and decision-makers at publishers just don’t care about the topic."
That's where I disagree. My opinion is that these sites are closing because they aren't serving gaming audiences, most of whom are turning to YouTube channels and the new generation of game media for their fix. Publishers might be short-sighted, but most established game media outlets are out of touch.
I think Substack has a role, but right now it can’t replace media just yet.
Stephen Totilio at Game File is making a great case for high profile gaming journalists creating a career out of subscription-based writing. If he can make this work, I suspect we’ll see more of his ilk.
But I think my games writers on Substack are like me… doing it as a hobby. I personally can’t compete with a full time journalist. Or even a freelancer (running my current PR company on the side).
At best, my former journalist training gives me is the ability to write, make less mistakes and navigate media ethics. I don’t have the contacts or expertise of a full time games journalist. I may get them eventually, but I know from my past, it’s a lot easier to generate them as a full time reporter for a reputable site.
PRs for companies are starting to take Substack writers seriously, but I suspect we’re in the same strategic bucket as influencers.
Thought I should also explain media ethics here, as it’s a nebulous concept outside of the industry. And there’s a great example here in this piece!
Jackson Ryan made his remarks earlier this year at a public event. By rights, it’s fair for me to use, without his permission.
However, I was drinking at the time, and wasn’t recording his comments with the intent of using them in an article.
So to ensure they are correct, I double-checked my recollection both with him, and others in the room. And stuck closely to his recollection rather than my own. Which was in the same vein as other accounts.
All this work was for two sentences. But that’s what journalism is.
I’m just lucky I had the time to do it properly! A luxury I didn’t always have in my old reporter role.
Thanks for responding. Really interesting subject. In my little piece of the world (TTRPGs) things seem equally if not more bleak. But there are new news sites going up that have subscription only models.
If you'll permit another question, do you think subscription models are viable for these more bespoke industries?
It really is. Really unclear as to what the solution is, but keen to follow with some high profile streamers at some point and get their take on it all.
They likely use games journalism as a first draft for their content.
Hmm… I never thought about that. You bring up a great point about how gamers who used to read EGM and then later IGN now likely spend most of their time watching streamers or YT content creators. But something is missing when you don’t have quality game journalism… at least an old hat like me thinks so
I have a different view about this. I think these are dinosaurs finally starting to tumble because they can't change fast enough.
Also, unless we're talking about something at the level of GamesIndustry.biz or GameDiscoverCo, I think "game journalism" is a contradiction. I think the article you wrote above is a better example of game journalism than anything I could see on the Kotaku Australia website.
Nice article, btw, thanks!
First off, thank you. Cards on the table, I studied and practiced as a journalist for three years (in tech). So I (hopefully) know what I’m doing!
Appreciate the compliment though!
It’s tricky.
I think there’s room for intelligent journalism at publications that don’t usually cover gaming. There is an audience there.
Kotaku still has a place in my view, but I think it’s a crowded spot among other overseas publishers, competing for the same eyeballs.
The problem here is the more websites that close, the more it shows that editors and decision-makers at publishers just don’t care about the topic. Or see value in it, despite heaps of data showing it’s a mainstream interest area.
The press can muckrake for clicks, some sites are purely driven by this. But they also dedicate time and resource to uncovering issues within the sector, with an eye to driving a solution for them.
It’s complex. Don’t have the answers as to how it can be sustainable or you convince the old guard to invest. But from experience in the industry, less media diversity is never a good thing.
"The problem here is the more websites that close, the more it shows that editors and decision-makers at publishers just don’t care about the topic."
That's where I disagree. My opinion is that these sites are closing because they aren't serving gaming audiences, most of whom are turning to YouTube channels and the new generation of game media for their fix. Publishers might be short-sighted, but most established game media outlets are out of touch.
Yeah fair.
I’d be keen to understand this more. I’ll likely dig into this as a topic at some point.
I will say managing a community and engagement is generally something that YouTubers and other content creators ‘get’ a lot more than reporters.
Interesting, I didn't even think of the community angle.
How do you think Substack plays into this? Will more gaming news move to similar platforms?
I think Substack has a role, but right now it can’t replace media just yet.
Stephen Totilio at Game File is making a great case for high profile gaming journalists creating a career out of subscription-based writing. If he can make this work, I suspect we’ll see more of his ilk.
But I think my games writers on Substack are like me… doing it as a hobby. I personally can’t compete with a full time journalist. Or even a freelancer (running my current PR company on the side).
At best, my former journalist training gives me is the ability to write, make less mistakes and navigate media ethics. I don’t have the contacts or expertise of a full time games journalist. I may get them eventually, but I know from my past, it’s a lot easier to generate them as a full time reporter for a reputable site.
PRs for companies are starting to take Substack writers seriously, but I suspect we’re in the same strategic bucket as influencers.
Thought I should also explain media ethics here, as it’s a nebulous concept outside of the industry. And there’s a great example here in this piece!
Jackson Ryan made his remarks earlier this year at a public event. By rights, it’s fair for me to use, without his permission.
However, I was drinking at the time, and wasn’t recording his comments with the intent of using them in an article.
So to ensure they are correct, I double-checked my recollection both with him, and others in the room. And stuck closely to his recollection rather than my own. Which was in the same vein as other accounts.
All this work was for two sentences. But that’s what journalism is.
I’m just lucky I had the time to do it properly! A luxury I didn’t always have in my old reporter role.
Thanks for responding. Really interesting subject. In my little piece of the world (TTRPGs) things seem equally if not more bleak. But there are new news sites going up that have subscription only models.
If you'll permit another question, do you think subscription models are viable for these more bespoke industries?
Possibly!
I think if there’s a demand for the content and a perceived value in it, then yes.
But it’s an evolving trend. I think right now we’re happy to pay for writers we value, but I wonder if there’s a limit to it?
It is getting absolutely dire out there for game journalism…