Beat The Press: Washington Post On Press Junkets

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An interesting article appeared in the Washington Post earlier this week that deals with what they seem to see as the shady practice of gaming companies holding press junkets. This is basically when a company invites the press to come and view a demo of a new game or the announcement of a new title, oftentimes offering to pay to have members of the press flown to their location and put up in fancy hotels. Even more interesting still is that the story was written while attending the Bethesda Fallout 3 event I recently attended. The article seems to imply that companies like Bethesda are paying for good press. This couldn't be father from the truth.
Firstly, many of the sites represented at the affair, including Kotaku, refuse to accept free air fare and hotel accommodations from gaming companies. We pay our own way to these events to help make sure our readers always have the best information we can provide on our dime.
And while yes, I believe that no legitimate press outlet should accept travel and hotel rooms, I also recognize that for some smaller outlets it is the only way they can afford to cover major events. Does this mean they end up being swayed by the money lavished upon them? Game Revolution's Mike Reilly, whom you should never mention World of Warcraft around, said it best.
"The reason I got invited is I have readership," he said. "The only way I keep readership is by staying honest, by calling it how I see it."​
Basically people can smell bullshit, and integrity is the most important aspect of this business. Note that I didn't say a complete lack of bias...after all part of our job is to give you our opinions. We just have to make sure those opinions are our own.
Be sure to check out the video over at the Washington Post website, where at several points if you squint really hard you can making out my giant, shaven head glistening magnificently in the track lighting of the amphitheatre.
An Inside Play To Sway Video Gamers [Washington Post via Game Politics]
[IMG]http://feeds.gawker.com/~a/kotaku/full?i=zlhRhb[/IMG]


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