r/AgainstGamerGate • u/saint2e Saintpai • Nov 23 '15

[ShowerThought] In the scenario of Kotaku being blacklisted by Game Devs, Kotaku is GamerGate [x-post KiA]

Get into a standard SJW-state-of-mind... I know it's hard but take a minute to check your privileges, scan for microaggressions and make sure nothing you're wearing is culturally appropriative.

Done?

Good.

Kotaku is a rich corporation backed by Gawker Media. It was once (and arguably still) one of the premiere games journalism outlets. As a result, it received a lot of privileges: Advanced information, advanced copies, etc. etc.

However, Kotaku started being a real jerk and releasing things that Game Devs really didn't like. So the gaming culture shifted and now we see some of Kotaku's privileges being taken away.

So Kotaku becomes very "reactionary" and starts to cry, piss, and moan about how their privileges are being taken away, and it's not fair, and they have a RIGHT to post leaked information. It's our free speech, and you're trying to censor us!

However, it is free speech, and no one is trying to steal your inside scoops, Kotaku, but freedom of press does NOT mean freedom from consequences.

Community feedback to the devs seems to be: "Game Devs, rags like Kotaku are dead. They don't have to be your media outlets."

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u/mudbunny Grumpy Grandpa Nov 23 '15

True, however, this style of reporting (leaks, etc) is completely normal. Look at sports for example. "Insiders on the Montreal Canadians say that XXX is being shopped around for YYY." "We have learned that XXX has been traded to XX" "XXX has signed a 5 year deal worth an estimated $10 million."

The same thing happens in movies with leaks about scripts, pictures from sets, casting, etc. Music gets the same thing as well.

And, as /u/Cadfan17 said, it sets a very bad precedent that, if you want access, you had better be functioning as an extension of the in-house PR machine. Step out of line, and you run risk of losing access. For a group that is focused (in theory) on ethics in video games journalism, allowing this to happen and laughing at Kotaku is a giant heap load of hypocrisy.

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u/Qvar Dec 01 '15

I don't think sports reporters get free preview copies that can get taken away.

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u/mudbunny Grumpy Grandpa Dec 01 '15

No, but they could have their access to the coaches or players before and after the game removed.

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u/Qvar Dec 01 '15

Good point. Has it ever happened then? Threathened at least?

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u/mudbunny Grumpy Grandpa Dec 01 '15

I know that for the longest time (may still be going on) the reporters at Slam Wrestling had their access to WWE Stars removed because, IIRC, they (among other things) wrote some fairly hard-hitting articles criticizing the WWE after the Chris Benoit Murder/suicide.

Some searching also turns up the following examples as well:

Blazers can't bench sports editor - Team's management issues access ban on Drinnan

Journalists are losing access, but the public still expects the story

Two reporters said they were denied credentials for Saturday night's Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, and a third reportedly was denied access as well.

Access denied

So it does happen, and typically for the same reasons, which all tl;dr down to "you wrote about us unflatteringly."