UPDATE: ATTN Journalists: SOE Wants to Pay You
Today, VGMWatch spoke with representatives from SOE’s PR division regarding Monday’s story. According to PR managers Katie Hanson and Michael Shelling, the editor event in Las Vegas has been cancelled. We only have their account to report at this time.
The game industry can only hope that other publishers will discontinue any similar practices that violate clear ethical principles of journalism. The problem is media outlets and PR firms are not used to having a third party entity conduct oversight into their business practices. However, growing pains are expected when an industry matures. We’ll keep you posted as more information comes our way.
on August 1st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
The problem is media outlets and PR firms are not used to having a third party entity conduct oversight into their business practices.
Yes, because if they were used to having people watch what they were doing, they might feel embarassed to be doing it. Once they’ve gotten used to it, they’ll cover their tracks better.
(Yeah, I’m feeling pretty cynical today. But can anyone dispute this?)
on August 1st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Yes, that’s definately a possibility we’ve considered. That only means our job will be a little harder.
on August 3rd, 2007 at 5:47 am
Good catch and good job bringing this out into the open.
That is splitting hairs, in my opinion. Journalists should under no circumstances -ever- accept money from the companies they are supposed to be watching.
Some suggested this “bordered” on bribing, I’m of the opinion that it crossed the line clearly, maybe not intentionally, but that is how it should be perceived. Bordering on bribing is the ridiculous things game journalists gets paid for such as airfare and hotel.
A journalists background and intengrity has to remain unblemished to as high a degree as possible.
Game journalists need to detach themselves from the industry and keep relationships on a professional level. Poor professionalism is hurting game journalism.
on August 3rd, 2007 at 5:50 am
Oh poo… I accidentally deleted a paragraph before posting. Second paragraph should be:
Some comments here and in other sites such as Ars Technica where the story is being discussed, people are dismissing this as a non-issue, saying that Sony is paying for the journalists’ time and not for their opinions.
on August 6th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Glad to see VGMW is acting as a powerful voice of change in the industry.