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Why are Uighur issues getting ignored by gaming journalism?
- Thread starter Rosenkrantz
- Start date
This is all great but misses the point. If someone uncovers these truths through real journalism and gaming media CHOSES not to report it and echo the issue, that is not lack of resources, that is lack of will. If a random person on era can, so can they.
OP
OP
If you have sources to write articles about leaks for "big AAA game number 1235", or internal fights in a company, or books about struggles during development etc. you can ask sources about internal discussions (or the lack there of) and write an article about this. It would be enough to talk about how Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony might talk, or not talk, about this issue internally.
This. Gaming sites/media aren't going to invest the time and money necessary to do the story justice. For most part their market, and by extension revenue source, aren't interested.
That's not to say gamers aren't concerned or disgusted by this, simply that there are 'serious' journalism sites they likely visit for these kinds of articles. Sites that are built to generate clicks and money through this kind of content.
Open yourself a bit more to the world then. BBC news and Deutsche Welle might be a good way for you to start ;) (and their social media accounts are worth following too).
So let's change the question..
What's stopping journalists from tweet/retweeting Uighurs exploitations news?
What's stopping journalists from tweet/retweeting Uighurs exploitations news?
This is not a flippant question, so please don't think it is. Why does a company like CPDR get one thread only for its game cyberpunk, and has a header post detailing its various bigotries, yet companies involved in slave labour don't even get a header post?
If ever there was going to be a forum that makes the effort to at the very least bring light to this, surely it's this one?
Someone hiding behind anonymity and posting on era is not the same as a company or organization reposting someone else reporting. I would love to see how brave posters on era would be if every post opened themselves up to libel damages.
News organizations have entire legal teams and trained investigative journalists for this sort of stuff. Even if we take Video Game news there is an awful lot they don't leak for fear of being blacklisted.
Part of it is that any global news organisation may not wish to endanger their staff in China that may immediately feel the repercussions and be targeted. And having staff badged as media retweeting stuff is a very quick way to have that happen. They may wish to warn their staff or families of those staff living in China, either on a visa or as part of a local branch, to be aware of what is about to be published, and they may not wish to potentially upend peoples lives over a single retweet rather than a bigger story. That doesn't mean the media doesn't have a duty to record and sound out the truth, but it does make it complicated when they have staff in China, that they have a duty of care for, that are easily targetable for reprisals by the CCP.
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I write occasionally for a publication on medium and I mentioned it once but no one seemed keen to pick it up. I only write like, one article every 3 months and it tends to be for pleasure (writing about something I'm personally interested in). I wouldn't really feel qualified to write about these issues and I'm not in a position to really get to the heart of what's happening over there. I would just be recycling things published elsewhere.
As much as I think journalism revolving around the game industry is in a sorry state, this is on point. Just look at some of the shit that Vice reporters have had to put up with when trying to investigate the Uighur situation in China. Because of the game journalism largely revolving PR and marketing beats, most people who label themselves games journalists don't have the connects to adequately report on these issues.
Most games journalists don't even know the first thing about how game development really works because, again, they don't have the working experience or connections. Expecting them to be able to adequately investigate and report on international humanitarian crises is maybe expecting a little too much. That said, they absolutely could be doing more to highlight the issue. In the same way they can regurgitate investigative pieces into crunch and malpractice in game development, they should be able to regurgitate the information that's freely available through other public sources about what's happening in China. They're just choosing not to, for whatever reason.
What about (yes, it's whataboutism) the times when Hong Kong protests were happening? Did they not report the news for the same reason?
This is a huge problem that goes well beyond gaming. Quite frankly no one seems to want to touch this issue either journalists or countries. It's also an incredibly difficult thing to actually get accurate information on.
Im not sure it's realistic to expect gaming journalists to be the one to crack this issue open.
Im not sure it's realistic to expect gaming journalists to be the one to crack this issue open.
Why should gaming journalists tweet about Hong Kong protests? That has nothing to do with software/game developers based in China or Hong Kong.
If hardware companies are in any way involved in forced labour that's a different story.
All companies that make hardware are involved, so it would need to be a general forum warning (which I support)
It isn't even covered in mainstream media. Had to Google it because I was utterly clueless and never heard about it before. All the news is full with everything else, especially right now, and there's also a very good reply in here as to why this isn't covered more.
I wouldn't expect the gaming industry (coverage) going on about this.
I wouldn't expect the gaming industry (coverage) going on about this.
I would guess that it's because reporting on HK up to now has been different as everyone was doing it and it was visable in the streets, led by the protest movement and footage from thousands of HK sources - there's almost a defence of strength in numbers as part of global criticism and imagery from everyone there. The concentration camps etc is something the CCP is completely denying is happening, to the entire world, within its own borders that it has complete control over, so both any western correspondents inside China, along with their Chinese colleagues and freelancers, are potentially in even more danger than HK reporters- until recently there were some lines of escape from HK to the U.K. for citizens looking to move here, along with an internationally recognised consulate in the same city there.
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I would agree that not having the resources to report on this in depth is a real thing but that still doesn't mean complete silence.
If a gaming site or tech site get a one on one interview with the boss of playstation, Nintendo, Xbox, apple etc etc how many do you think would dare to even bring up this issue and question such bosses on whether it was right to still manufacture in China with what we know is going on there?
They wouldn't do it just like if they have a one on one with CDPR they wouldn't question them on there crunch issues or transphobia.
Can't be biting the hand that feeds them.
If a gaming site or tech site get a one on one interview with the boss of playstation, Nintendo, Xbox, apple etc etc how many do you think would dare to even bring up this issue and question such bosses on whether it was right to still manufacture in China with what we know is going on there?
They wouldn't do it just like if they have a one on one with CDPR they wouldn't question them on there crunch issues or transphobia.
Can't be biting the hand that feeds them.
If they don't talk about an issue for fear of being "blacklisted" by Sony or whoever, they are choosing to report what marketing teams want them to report and have games a few days early for review over reporting on real life issues that destroy lives. You are proving my point.
With so many articles based of tweets and forum posts its hard to buy that gaming journalists don't want to report on something they haven't personally investigated. Look at how many articles were written off of Jason Schreier's crunch reporting. Not having their own sources didn't stop these outlets from writing about crunch based off Jason's investigation. They could do the same with the China slave situation. I'd say the real reason there isn't any coverage is that they care about the situation about as much as their audience does. Which is not much at all. The only reason crunch even gets any traction is because the people being hurt are some of their friends and reflect their and their readers demographic.
The poor Uighur people
what a fucking mess
Let it really sink in that you buying a PS5 or XSX means you're supporting the Uighur people being destroyed
what a weird fucked up world we live in. It is pathetic the richest of us only want to have more more more
more money more power
what a fucking mess
Let it really sink in that you buying a PS5 or XSX means you're supporting the Uighur people being destroyed
what a weird fucked up world we live in. It is pathetic the richest of us only want to have more more more
more money more power
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That's easily ignored, but it'd be something. I think at the very least, threads detailing these company's financial reports and hardware sales should have some kind of first post that has information around how these sales and profits came about with the involvement of slave labour.
I think that's a bit...disrespectful. Journalists need sources, time, field experience, to get proper info on these issues. It's unrealistic to expect a game journo (or sports, same thing) to have access to that kind of thing.
At least, if I had that kind of info, with proof, you can be sure I'd send it to Reuters or BBC, not Eurogamer...
At least, if I had that kind of info, with proof, you can be sure I'd send it to Reuters or BBC, not Eurogamer...
This is not entirely true though. You have guys like Schreier and Klepek who have both done some of the best actual reporting in the industry.
I am not.
Reposting or rewording another article is not the same thing as what real investigative journalists do. It could also potentially open up gaming media outlets to libel. None of which I imagine someone working at ign, gamespot etc is trained for. ( EDIT: by "trained" i don't mean education. )
Also your comment that "If a random person on era can, so can they." is just naïve.
What we generally call "gaming journalism" is mostly just news and review outlets, which is mostly just unofficial marketing for video game publishers. Obviously, reporting on slave labour in concentration camps is pretty bad PR.
The few actual journalists that exist in this space don't actually have a lot of information that they can write articles on. It's not like there's a steady supply of defecting state officials or prisoner escapees to interview.
The few actual journalists that exist in this space don't actually have a lot of information that they can write articles on. It's not like there's a steady supply of defecting state officials or prisoner escapees to interview.
Because almost all gaming outlets have 0 Muslim representation and with that, absolutely no idea about issues that might effect people on a global basis.
Progressive outlets fail to deliver on their promise that they're political and do next to nothing to talk about genocide.
It also requires a bigger level of commitment to things we actually enjoy - easy to find other places to eat and ignore Chick-fil-A but when it turns out your electronics, from games consoles to pc parts may be manufactured with slave labour from a genocided group - it's a tougher ask.
Progressive outlets fail to deliver on their promise that they're political and do next to nothing to talk about genocide.
It also requires a bigger level of commitment to things we actually enjoy - easy to find other places to eat and ignore Chick-fil-A but when it turns out your electronics, from games consoles to pc parts may be manufactured with slave labour from a genocided group - it's a tougher ask.
This is a really big ask for gaming sites and pubs to cover. It's an entirely different ball game then what the few actual gaming journalists normally cover.
This is news better covered else where by journalists and companies that have been working for decades in this league of news.
This is news better covered else where by journalists and companies that have been working for decades in this league of news.
Not sure why people think game reviewers and commentators are capable of validating reports of foreign human rights abuses. They can ask for statements from the console manufacturers but that's always going to be a PR line.
There are of course a very small handful of investigative journalists working in the games industry but I sincerely doubt they have the network, resources and experience required to independently verify the accounts. This is a job for the UN, leaders of nations and experienced journalists with backgrounds in the subject matter to follow up on. Those are the people who should be pressured to act like this issue is the priority it is.
There are of course a very small handful of investigative journalists working in the games industry but I sincerely doubt they have the network, resources and experience required to independently verify the accounts. This is a job for the UN, leaders of nations and experienced journalists with backgrounds in the subject matter to follow up on. Those are the people who should be pressured to act like this issue is the priority it is.
Because in the end the world really, really doesn't give a shit.
The vast majority just want their videogames, iphones etc. and that's it.
They don't care how they are made or about human suffering.
And nor do they want to be reminded of their lack of care. That would just make them feel bad, and we can't have that.
The vast majority just want their videogames, iphones etc. and that's it.
They don't care how they are made or about human suffering.
And nor do they want to be reminded of their lack of care. That would just make them feel bad, and we can't have that.
That's not how libel works. If you report that a newspaper published some information, you are not lying in any way, only the original source is liable, that's why sourcing is important.
In Spain for example we have Anaitgames, which constantly reports on the many bullshits a of this industry. They do so by giving up on publishing companies' press statements and assuming they won't get Call of Duty a week before release. Other outlets don't do the same because they are not here to report, they are here to entertain.
I'm not asking them to go to China and risk their neck, I'm asking that, if someone else does, they don't bury it under game trailers, shiny graphics and next gen version comparisons. They are free to choose to do one thing or the other and I am free to point out what they are choosing to do and to not do. Like most people, they choose convenience, comfort and financial profit; that doesn't make it the right choice or the only choice, it only makes it their choice, the same way I choose to criticize it and you choose to defend it.
Absolutely nothing. Its not like all the outrage over the Capitol Hill insurrection is from journalists who are personally investigating it. The HK protests got a ton of coverage in the game press. The coverage of the HK protest in the gaming world says it all.
The elephant in the room is, its because they are Muslims. It's not exactly like the world really cares. 50% of the world agrees with killing them off the other half doesn't care. Thats just the truth. Lebron tweeted about HK protest but certainly not about the Uigurs.
The coverage of things like Myanmar and Uighurs all around the world is tiny compared to the gravity. And it will remain that way. Islamaphobia is just a cancer that has spread throughout most cultures, tbh. Its the way of the world.
"We are boycotting Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and Apple for using slave labour. We will not be covering their products anymore."
"Great! Now what do we write about?"
"Great! Now what do we write about?"
I am not defending or criticizing it.
I am saying that there is an unreal expectation here for video game journalists and their organizations to report on the plight of the Uighurs. Also, whether anyone here is criticizing's or defending it we are doing so behind funny usernames and anonymity. We are not publicly doing this with our full name, job title and place of work attached.
Just an idea but it might be a good to provide some articles or links in the first post so that if people are scanning this thread they can read a bit more about it.
HK protests were talked about a lot by the gaming press. Capitol insurrection was talked about a lot.
There is nothing stopping journalists from talking about BBC and other reporters coverage.
Not sure how that is unrealistic. Ppl will talk about what they care about, and what they want to talk about.
The gaming worlds indifference is the same as the worlds. Islamaphobia.
That aspect on global scale is actually just even more fucked up. Albania is the only Muslim majority country in the world that has condemned China. Saudi-Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan and Egypt to name a few have all actively supported and defended China's genocidal policies.
2020 Edition: Which Countries Are For or Against China’s Xinjiang Policies?
Another year, another set of dueling statements about Xinjiang to the U.N. This time, there are some interesting differences in who is backing China — and who isn’t.
thediplomat.com
I never meant to specifically point my finger at gaming journalists, as you can see from my first post in this thread. But even so, didn't gaming journalists report the news about pro players being banned from competition (Heartstone?) because they mentioned the HK protest?
I guess that's reasonable.
So, reporting/tweeting uighur news is more dangerous to staff inside China, but reporting live about the protest from Hong Kong doesn't. The reason being that Uighur is still a "rumour" while Hong Kong is a fact due to live reporting.
Because it's not a first world problem.
Also the reason why this discussion doesn't gain traction here, look at any "X studio in first world has a toxic ambient" vs "Uighur" threads here. If this thread was about something Cage did we would be at page 10 at this point.
Also the reason why this discussion doesn't gain traction here, look at any "X studio in first world has a toxic ambient" vs "Uighur" threads here. If this thread was about something Cage did we would be at page 10 at this point.
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