On the Subject of the Kotaku Controversy

I've been writing articles and news pieces for small gaming websites for well over two years now, and in that time when I take it upon myself to write an opinion piece, I only ever wrote about controversies in the industry itself or surrounding some game.  There have been controversies in gaming journalism since I first started, but I always avoided sounding off on the subject because frankly, I lack the authority to say anything.  When there's a controversy surrounding a company or a game, I can voice off. I'm a customer and a gamer, respectively, so I have that right, but my experience with writing for websites likens my qualifications to more to  maintaining a daily blog than marking me as a professional journalist. 

So when I first heard about the latest controversy surrounding a Kotaku writer, at first I didnt intend to voice an opinion eitherId let the real editors and writers take their stand and merely spectate.  But then I realized, perhaps later than I should admit, that not only do I have the authority to speak on this particular controversy, but perhaps I have more authority than most.

First, some explinations...

Because this is an opinion piece, I'm going to opt out of naming names, but this is all something you could very easily google so if youre really that curious you can get more details that way.  But in effect: a Kotaku writer (who shall remain unnamed) has become a controversial figure when it was discovered that he had slept with and subsequently started dating a female developer, who will also remain unnamed.  People immediately accused him of sacrificing his journalistic integrity and using sexuality to get an in into the industry.

Kotaku investigated and claimed there was no evidence of that kind of corruption, and to this day the guy continues to write for them. 

It's not one of the larger controversies, and you likely only heard of it if youre a regular on Kotaku or if you follow the developer (who is relatively high profile) closely, but it's big enough to get the attention of others, like myself.  And I find myself finally able to speak on the subject, because that Kotaku writer and myself are in similar situations.  Almost.

I also have a guy in the industry.  Hes my brother who will also remain unnamed, and the company he works for will remain anonymous.  And while I can safely and proudly declare I've never slept with him, I must also disclose he has talked with me in confidence about his company, the state of the industry from his perspective, and some of the projects hes worked on.  Everything hes told me and shared I've kept to myself, outside broadly shaping my opinions in news pieces and articles like this.

So this controversy affects me, personally, both as a person interested in the culture of gaming as well as an aspiring journalist.  Because I have what a lot of journalists would kill to have, a person in the trenches feeding me information, but what could also cost a journalist their joban emotional, familiar connection with a developer that could compromise my journalistic objectivity. 

Asking me, you could imagine, what side of the argument I fall on would lead to a predictable answer.  Like that Kotaku writer, I feel I can report on news and express opinions without the relationship affecting me.  It's as easy as avoiding subjects that involve him personally, I might say, or Being aware of what I can share and whats too high-profile is common sense.   But as journalists, we answer to the public, not our own conscious.  That's our job, after all--I can justify it to myself until I can sleep soundly at night but that would not sway the concerns of a diligent audience. 

I could step back and try to voice my opinion on if what this writer and developer are doing is right, but that would defeat the purpose of this article.  The whole reason I feel justified in expressing an opinion is because I have that connection, and dammit, that means I'm going to try to explain WHY this is okay.  Because to be perfectly frank: I don't like this Kotaku journalist!  I don't think hes a good writer, I binge-read many of his articles in anticipation of this opinion piece looking for signs of corruption and I found his style banal and over-reliant on cliché.  But dammit, I'm still on his side because when it comes down to it, Journalists arent robots.  We're people.  Human people with desires both for our careers and outside of them.  Sometimes those desires are at odds, but just because you might prioritize a relationship over perceived journalistic integrity doesnt mean journalistic integrity isnt important to you.  He could have been attracted to this developer for any number of reasons.  Their relationship could have grown for any number of reasons.  It's possible, POSSIBLE, that the mutual benefit of having an inside scoop in the industry and a guaranteed good review was a contributing or defining element in their relationship, but thats one of a dozen possibilities and there's so little evidence of it the only real excuse you have to truly believe thats the case is bitter cynicism.   There's no indication in his articles that his job is affected by his relationshipand while I agree it's something we need to keep an eye on in the future, it's nothing we need to tear them apart for NOW.

Of course, when it comes to situations like this, it's always case-by-case.  For me, I doubt Ill ever be in trouble for having a brother in the industry.  It's a lot less scandalous and exciting to be related to a person in the industry by blood than it is to seduce them.  And it's not as if I could stop being my brothers brother, were always going to have that bond and I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon.   But for this Kotaku writer?  It could just be love.  Does that make him a bad journalist?  Not yet, it hasnt.  But it makes him a more fulfilled human being, so why do we have to tear him down for that?



I encourage anyone who fears his integrity might be compromised to keep an eye on him, by all means. Scrutinize him, it's an obligation any public figure has to willingly submit themselves too for the privileges of their position. Just don't jump the gun, and don't try to find evidence where there is none.

Now if you excuse me, my brother and I are going to play a round of League of Legends and talk about Watchmen over lunch.