Like many of you, growing up I wanted to become a game journalist. I religiously subscribed to the likes of PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine back in their heyday. That was relatively long ago, back before the fall of modern games journalism. Before the woke tyranny and buzz words that plague games writing today.
These days, it appears more and more that games journalism deeply requires a renaissance. A new breed of game journalist who genuinely loves the industry, the games big and small, and the communities that crop up within each game and genre under the sun.
Does that sound like you? Do you want to write about video games? Do you want to interact with gaming communities, speak with developers, and play the latest releases late into the night to meet an early-morning deadline before your editor chews you out?
I don’t mean to dissuade or discourage anyone, but I will keep it real in this guide.
Read on to learn how to become a game journalist in 2022!
Writing Credits
Do you have to write for free to become a game journalist? No, but I would be lying to say it doesn’t help. As a writer, I would typically never suggest anyone write without getting paid for their work. It’s a job like any other; a skill set that not everyone has that you can leverage for a paycheck.
Sure, most folks believe they can write, and some truly do have a knack for the written word. Most, however, kid themselves.
But if you’re brand-new to the video game journalism industry, you need writing credits. You need work to show publications that, yes, you can write adequately enough to publish online.
Personally, I started writing for small-time websites, doing reviews and guides on games I bought with my own money.
I wasn’t paid. No, not even in review copies. I received a byline and a letter of recommendation from the editor in return for my hard work. I leveraged those to receive paying gigs writing about, you guessed it, video games!
Do I recommend this path now? Yes and no. If you don’t mind writing for free, at least initially, then yeah, you can leverage that experience into a side gig or career. If you’d rather not write for free, then try your hand at freelance writing in another field. Video games are massive as an industry, and you have a lot of competition.
How to Land a Job in Game Journalism
Your first gig is exciting, a little challenging, and occasionally downright confusing. You have to learn specifics on the job. But when it comes time to land a job in game journalism, a few tips and tricks can help you out.
Learn Journalism
There are different types of game journalists out there. Some of them focus their time and attention on game reviews, others, like myself, focus on video game guides. Still others, however, prefer to work within the active news space and push piece after piece as the industry breathes.
Start by learning about journalism and the video game industry as a whole. You’ll want to learn today’s top news writing techniques or practice interview methodology.
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree, though a formal education can help.
Practice Writing
Now is the time to develop your writing skills and craft a personal voice and style. For this, you could write in a Word document in your spare time, start a blog, or pitch articles to online publications for experience.
Personally, I have found the best method to improve my writing is to receive feedback from an editor or a fellow writer.
In your spare time, consider picking up a writing technique book or two. I recommend The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
Build a Network
Do you currently know anyone within the games journalism space? Are you friends with writers, editors, or content creators?
Now is the time to build your network. If you’re an introvert, this step can prove difficult. You’ll want to thrust yourself out into the world, say ‘hello’ to folks you’d typically walk right past at an event, or hey, even interact with them online via Twitch, YouTube, LinkedIn, and through email.
By increasing the size of your network, you increase your possibilities. Someone you know may have heard through the grapevine that publication A is actively hiring a news writer. Or, perhaps your streamer pal knows of a big story you could break?
Apply for Positions
There are a variety of resources available to up-and-coming writers who want to land a writing gig. You could sift through LinkedIn, Indeed, or find a dedicated games journalism job board.
The key is to put yourself out there, though. If you never apply to any job listing, you’ll never land a game journalist job.
Alternatively, instead of using a job board, find a website or publication you enjoy reading, then contact them directly. You can usually find a contact form or an editor’s email address.
Don’t Get Discouraged
As I previously said, games journalism is extremely popular and you have a ton of competition.
If you apply to a gig and they turn you down, or worse, they never respond, move on. The more you dwell on the negatives, the more likely you are to give in and find another path. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with taking a different route through life. But if you genuinely want to become a game journalist, prepare yourself mentally for denial letters and ghosting.
Becoming a game journalist requires focus, commitment, attention to detail, and a willingness to put in the work!
While Goblins & Ghouls is currently a one-man show, we do accept occasional pitches. However, as a small yet growing website, we cannot pay at this time. As I said, evaluate opportunities and decide for yourself whether the experience can be leveraged into other work.
If you want to reach out, head over to our contact us page!