"Independent ESPORTS Journalism" A contrived topic

dacthehork

United States2000 Posts

December 23 2011 01:40 GMT

Well it seems like the discussion of OMG we need independent ESPORTS journalism just started cropping up quite recently. I am wondering if this wasnt a directed effort to make MLG cutting a lot of staff easier.

1. I never really saw any huge outcry from anyone that didnt exist 1 year ago.

2. It seemed to become a hot button issue only on these so called non independent shows. Which is ironic since its a direct criticism against their existence.

3. It paved the way for the cutting of MLG staff and higher interest in their work afterwords. Almost all the fired writers/shows made exit speaches talking about going "independent".

So was the whole omg "sponsored' coverage thing a big push to make the MLG cuts blow over better and give these people a better chance in a non sponsored environment? I personally don't think shows or writers have as much viability without sponsorship unless its a very hobby/passion thing.

Anyway what do you think? was this a contrived topic on A LOT of shows to improve MLG's PR?

Angel_

United States1617 Posts

December 23 2011 02:08 GMT

Independent shows and journalism and articles and such are important because they show attention being given to Starcraft 2 from outside sources than just the community. To put that differently, they're a measure of the growth of esports as a whole and starcraft 2 AND help both to actually grow at the same time, which is why it's vital that we foster them as they come up and give them attention (especially to the ones that actually deserve it).

A lot of arguments can be made about whether or not they're credible, why they should or shouldn't be paid attention to (again credibility, interest, etc..), but it doesn't detract from the point that getting outsiders involved in e-sports is potentially very good for e-sports.

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and no, i don't buy into the /tinfoil hat theory you're spouting.

Offhand

United States1869 Posts

December 23 2011 03:12 GMT

Some people don't understand that it's rather impossible to have "independent journalism" dedicated to Starcraft beyond community run efforts, at least in the beginning. The scene might just be large enough now to support such a thing.

Primadog

United States4411 Posts

December 23 2011 03:34 GMT

Too much conspiracy theory.

Torte de Lini

Germany38463 Posts

December 23 2011 03:43 GMT

Not sure where there ever was a demand for independent e-sports writers. There still isn't and if you're going to show me one topic that pleaded for it based on some conspiracy-written newsbase site, I'm going to chuckle.

There is a demand for independent journalists who work for their stories or at least, start from scratch, but there is no demand for an independent organization of journalists because there's nothing that really needs to have an independent viewpoint. We already have that as a community and the organizations answer to that directly or via their actions.

Independent journalism is just a curtain people drape stories with to give the illusion that it's "fair". Without an independent standpoint paranoid people assume that the full-story isn't told or that a bias in opinion masks the reality of things.

Those people are also quick to yell Wolf and "Hurting E-SPORTS" bullshit a lot.

Anyway what do you think? was this a contrived topic on A LOT of shows to improve MLG's PR?

I think you're trying too hard to play connect-four.

shindigs

United States4795 Posts

December 23 2011 07:11 GMT

It's a topic that was interesting at first but run into the ground extremely quickly. Not sure if people realize that leading a true "independent" resource means running the risk of actually being black listed by the behind-the-scenes community if they write the wrong thing or leak crazy upcoming announcements.

I think gosutrolling.com was the closest thing we had in 2010 - 2011 that was independent, and the writer evoli even leaked the NASL announcement. He's doing quite well for himself now, and his interviews and articles were very well written. I'm not sure if the climate of ESPORTS at the moment can foster the growth of a similar website. People cite ESFI world as an independent source, but I'm not sure if it reaaaaallly meets the definition if we want to argue over semantics.

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"Independent ESPORTS Journalism" A contrived topic

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