tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post2689690737772707502..comments2024-02-13T04:29:44.662-05:00Comments on Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah: Gaming The MediaKirith Kodachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12322297953184168725noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-82121127564343409652016-02-19T08:52:53.504-05:002016-02-19T08:52:53.504-05:00I think the key term here isn't "media&qu...I think the key term here isn't "media" (which bloggers are) or "journalist" (which some bloggers - e.g. Noizy - are IMO), but "employee".<br /><br />If you are part of a business that makes a profit from newsworthy stuff happening in video games, and you are in a position to influence newsworthy stuff happening in video games, then that's a conflict of interest; and one CCP has decided it'd rather not deal with. Employment comes with it's own set of contractual obligations that bloggers and blogger-journalists don't have, and which may supersede those that a potential CSM member has with CCP.<br /><br />For example, I'm sure back in the day Jester had many articles ready to publish when certain news was announced by CCP. Doing that in a professional context would require sharing that NDA'd info with your editors, or at least advising them that something newsworthy is about to drop, which would in itself be a potential NDA violation. Not doing your job, or disclosing some things to the CSM/CCP that your employer is planning may run you afoul of your employment contract. It's simply an untenable position.<br /><br />So the key thing isn't where you write - or even who for - it's who you are legally obligated to.<br />Cunninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358046055276382211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-78083843443957484512016-02-19T06:39:54.924-05:002016-02-19T06:39:54.924-05:00I have to totally agree here. The nature of NDA an...I have to totally agree here. The nature of NDA and CSM being priviy to future developments with-in CCP's product, give CCP every right to reserve access to this sensitive information. <br /><br />A conflict of interests is almost always the case when you are known to "sell out" to other developers or publishers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09831630902497766699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-64145762408988427582016-02-19T04:44:23.269-05:002016-02-19T04:44:23.269-05:00I may be a bit simplistic in my thinking, but I ke...I may be a bit simplistic in my thinking, but I keep thinking of rules on conflicts of interest and confidential information that I run across on a daily basis in my own Real Life profession.Marc Callanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02461201945048166013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-40542588018010158752016-02-19T03:23:14.449-05:002016-02-19T03:23:14.449-05:00Noizy is probably the closest to deserving the nam...Noizy is probably the closest to deserving the name in our community. It's about doing research and verifying sources.Stabshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716211705647213383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-41112877756478630242016-02-19T03:06:49.354-05:002016-02-19T03:06:49.354-05:00Seems like this new rule is essentially a No Sion...Seems like this new rule is essentially a No Sions rule that they've attempted to dress up in different language.Stabshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716211705647213383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-20692726229614343622016-02-18T23:45:33.707-05:002016-02-18T23:45:33.707-05:00Looking at the CCP's rules, I can honestly say...Looking at the CCP's rules, I can honestly say I get contacted once or twice a month about reviewing games, so that puts me in touch with the marketing departments of game companies. Also, my blog is not an official fansite. So if I put ads on my blog (I currently have the Disqus ads turned off), does that make my blog a gaming media site? If so, where's my press pass for Fanfest?!NoizyGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315716516032999133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-48551312598382433902016-02-18T22:18:42.973-05:002016-02-18T22:18:42.973-05:00The second definition is entirely irrelevant. But ...The second definition is entirely irrelevant. But to the broader question, CCP has basically defined what it considers to be the subset of "media" it is targeting. Which basically boils down to any site organized as a legal, revenue-generating business that also covers other games. I'm paraphrasing and can't seem to find Leeloo's comment, but it seems pretty clear they don't just mean all media or whether blogs or podcasts or any other form of medium falls within "media". But rather how official it is at being something more than a hobby AND whether it has business-related contacts with other game makers and the like. Hell, based on the comments I've seen, even if you're a legit employee of a real business, but only covering EVE, you wouldn't be excluded. <br /><br />Now honestly, I'm just not sure how any of that really matters with regard to the NDA. You tell me, what is a bigger risk: A glorified fansite is trying to be something more than a fansite or hobby and has an actual employee (not a space pixel employee) on the CSM and privy to NDA material? Or some dude's roommate, relative or bed buddy works for a competitor?<br /><br />I'm not saying this is targeting Sion or other actual employees of TMC specifically, but it sure as heck isn't removing much more of the real risk associated with an NDA breach.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790099156601199483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-67609184760223521992016-02-18T22:13:24.054-05:002016-02-18T22:13:24.054-05:00The difficulty is that language is imprecise: any ...The difficulty is that language is imprecise: any attempt by CCP to clarify by 'gaming media' would be full of so many holes that it could be easily rules-lawyered, or so abstruse that nobody but a lawyer can understand it. The "I know it when I see it" approach may be overused, but has a lot of truth to it.<br /><br />You can see a hint of that in the judge's comment as well, where (in your paraphrase) it is said that the blogs fall "within the broad reach of media" - which raises the question: what distinguishes the 'broad' reach from the 'narrow' reach.<br /><br />My suspicion is that CCP's interpretations of 'gaming media' is one of writers for organizations who could (and sometimes do) dictate what and how it's writers approach a topic - and I bet that this image is one which many people would have if they were asked to define "/the/ gaming media". Using this interpretation, a Sion writing for TMC is different from a Kirith writing for Kirith: both are broadly speaking 'media', but one of the two might (might!) be coerced into writing something he may not really stand for (or simply not get published at all).<br /><br />That is not to say that the phrasing in CSM document couldn't use improvement; but at the same time, I would not be surprised if such an improvement would take the form of "including, but not limited to, ..."Druur Monakhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17266766378798878053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-26542330122321825832016-02-18T19:43:19.550-05:002016-02-18T19:43:19.550-05:00Are bloggers media? Yes. Are bloggers journalis...Are bloggers media? Yes. Are bloggers journalists? Almost always a resounding no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10989652.post-89957515044075997842016-02-18T16:13:49.513-05:002016-02-18T16:13:49.513-05:00The old "are bloggers press?" question. ...The old "are bloggers press?" question. I've been down this road before and have seen any number of nonsensical responses to the question, including:<br /><br />-You get paid to write<br />-You work for an organization that is part of "the press" <br />-You have a degree in journalism<br />-You focus on reporting just news and facts<br />-You meet a certain standards of quality<br />-People at X event will give you a press pass<br /><br />All of that puts the determination in the hands of others and whatever arbitrary threshold suits them. And it can be very arbitrary. Back in the 50s newpaper reporters looked down on television reporters as not really being press, as they had looked down on radio in the 20s. In the late 90s I heard somebody speaking at the National Press Club scorn the idea that anybody working on the web could be considered a member of the press, and especially not Matt Drudge because he broke stories that were considered unseemly... though once they were broke the mainstream press covered them voraciously, most notably the Monica Lewinsky scandal.<br /><br />The only logical answer in a free society is that you are a member of the press... the media if you prefer... if you say you are and act as though you are. Anything less ends in the loss of freedom. Having no editor or no payroll or a small audience or a low barrier to entry is completely irrelevant to the question. <br /><br />*stands resolutely while patriotic music plays and an eagle soars overhead*<br />Wilhelm Arcturushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033496821708933394noreply@blogger.com